I went to film school. Which isn’t uncommon for web developers, designers, and such. (See: Micki Krimmel)

I believe I choose film production for a myriad of reasons. One: they didn’t have computer animation or web design at University of Miami (where my parents wanted me to go). I didn’t want to transfer later and have to start over; I didn’t want to be in college for more than four years. Two: I wanted to move somewhere other than Miami after graduation. Film production was really my only option where my parents didn’t give me the “you can do that here” line. I really had to get away, you know?

But I loved it. I had a great time in film school (yes, actual film). I learned a lot that transfers over to what I’m doing these days.

I moved to corporate position at TNT/TBS when I realized that production was just too much. 60 hour plus work weeks. Always looking for the next job. I wanted something steady for a bit. I loved working at TNT in the sense that my coworkers were great and the company is great to work at…for a large corporation. I was having panic attacks and loads of unnecessary stress. My health felt as if it were fading even more so. But I stuck with it for three years…due to the great people I worked with. I also got some cool perks (see above).

I never joined a union but if I had stayed in production, I would have needed to after being a PA. Hollywood is a union town, so I have a slightly different perspective on unions.

I see some flaws in them,  but overall I see their purpose. If enough people want to strike and you don’t, you still have to. That can’t be right. Yet, it’s the only way to ensure you won’t be underpaid and overworked (as if 12+ hours per day aren’t enough). They could stand a few changes, but overall I support them.

How does this relates to the government union protests in Wisconsin? It really doesn’t, save for the fact that I have a slightly different general perspective on unions. To remove their collective bargaining means to destroy them completely. I can’t see how anyone wants that. Those who do, must never call 911 when necessary. They must put out their own fires. Umm, bravo?

If you are one of those who think teachers aren’t always the best, I don’t want to see the quality of teachers go down the tubes. I had some awful teachers but I also had some wonderful ones. I went to public school and had a relatively good experience. I had teachers who said I wouldn’t even make it to community college. I was lazy because they were poor teachers. That could get worse? No thanks! On the other side of the coin, I had some great teachers. We need more of those. And that won’t happen if we cut and demolish public school funding or collective bargaining rights from unions.

Collective bargaining rights is all they have to ensure they don’t get underpaid and overworked.

If it weren’t for unions we wouldn’t know of weekends, sick and vacation paid leave, 8 hour work days (except for those in entertainment but they get paid for it!), child labor laws, worker’s compensation, and more.

Trade unions were responsible for setting the ball in motion- for making these things standards in the work force. It may be argued that they could stand some reform, but to get rid of them completely would be a bad move.

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While in Hollywood, California (yes, there’s one in Florida too and not far from Miami), I can clearly recall many times when I heard the phrase “godless Hollywood (liberals)” derogatorily uttered by some talking head or congressperson. It was precisely that: the word godless used negatively that vexed me enough to begin blogging. When a political spokesperson or figurehead to disparages another’s opinion on the basis of his political views, its the usual business of things. Yet when said spokesperson brings his world view into question, completely unsolicited, it is simply not necessary. Wasn’t religion supposed to be a private matter? Well, thanks to many religious folks, it no longer is. It’s out there, amidst the universe, flailing carelessly in the open air.

The one US city where religion is still a private matter (that I’ve experienced) is, for the most part, Los Angeles. LA certainly is not a religious city by most means. But is it godless? Unfortunately, no. You won’t see nativity scenes in public arenas but that doesn’t mean many of the people who live there don’t hold deeply religious and spiritual beliefs. I surely met more liberal religionists and nonreligious people in LA than I would have in most other US cities but not a lot of atheists, excluding atheist/skeptic-geared meetups and discussions at CFI. The people I did meet with faith of some kind didn’t try to convert me– other than that one time two young Mormon girls came knocking on the apartment door (after squeaking past the lobby buzzer) at 10PM. People tend to leave other people’s beliefs alone; they never know what crazy thing you believe in! Or…eek…not believe in. Christians don’t mention Jesus as much as they do in the middle of the country. It’s more generic god-based.

One thing I noticed was that many people have no problem assuming everyone believes in some godly force. The details are gravy. Probably too many Jews, Wiccans, Buddhists, and so on to quibble about the differences. Though I appreciate the lack of specified religion in Los Angeles, I still felt homeless among several circles. It’s more of a secular, separation-of-church-and-state kind of place. Which, in my opinion, surely beats the mono-religion atmosphere.

Outside of LA, however, that changes. Until you get to, of course, San Fransisco.

So I’m in Miami for a bit (maybe another year) and I’m back among that largely reform Jewish area I grew up in. But somehow I notice more subtle hints of religion, and more specifically, Christianity. People seem to be a bit more religious, they certainly are in the rest of the state. I do notice more Jesus-related items around. More Jesus figurines at the dollar store and nativity scenes at the mall. I was actually pretty shocked at the latter. But I never did get a photo. It wasn’t at the local mall though (further north), so that would probably explain it. It’s funny how the further north you go, the more its like the south.

My 6-year stint in the City of Angels (which I prefer to think represents the literary winged creatures of fiction – not like there is any other kind) is over and I miss it enormously. But I’m needed here now. Though, I wish it weren’t the case that small towns are far more religious for the sake of us nonbelievers who prefer the small town lifestyle.  Luckily for me, I’m a city girl.