Random Inspirations

So this image helped me out in my singing class:

from pinterest.com

Something had happened and I was laughing really hard when the teacher started the music I was in the front of the classroom to sing. I told myself to pull myself together and be like Benedict Cumberbatch. True story. I wasn't perfect, but I got back in the mode a lot quicker than I normally would have. The randomest people in your life can become your inspiration in times when you need it. Hang around good people and good media for best results.

Mark Gatiss Mini-Bio

In my research I have discovered Steven Moffat's co-conspirator (to a degree). Mark Gatiss worked with Steven Moffat in Doctor Who, Jekyll, and Sherlock. I haven't seen Jekyll, but the other two I know and love. I do think that this is fun to see co-conspirators in more of my role models, evidence to support my case.

Steven and Mark
(http://hotcutegirlygeek.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/sherlock-a-review-of-season-1-and-2/)

Mark Gatiss has a degree in Theatre Arts and a lot of experience in acting and writing. I think it is awesome that he acts in several of the shows which he wrote. I would like to follow that example because I enjoy the hands-on aspect of working and being the 'brains' behind it. He is also very versatile- working backstage and not just in front of the camera or in the writing/directing aspect. He also had a part in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, which was a show I enjoyed watching. I think he follows in the same place as Steven Moffat in my blog since they worked on most of my favourite jobs together.

Resources for this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Gatiss#Sherlock and http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309693/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Asbestos!

In lieu of my researching many things Sherlock Holmes, I am making a blog post similar to what Sherlock might do (really just more on a topic he would do). Asbestos is the random topic- specifically the locations that asbestos could be found. Most of my information is coming from the wikipedia article on asbestos. Let me know if you think it is up to par.

• Chlor Alkali diaphragm membranes used to make chlorine (currently in the USA) 

• Drywall and joint compound

• Plaster

• Gas mask filters pre 1960s

• Mud and texture coats

• Vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives

• Roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles^[36]

• "Transite" panels, siding, countertops, and pipes

• Popcorn ceilings, also known as acoustic ceilings

• Fireproofing

• Caulk

• Industrial and Marine Gaskets, including those made by Garlock Sealing Technologies

• Packing, a system for sealing a rotating shaft

• Brake pads and shoes

• Stage curtains

• Fire blankets

• Interior fire doors

• Fireproof clothing for firefighters

• Thermal pipe insulation

• Filters for removing fine particulates from chemicals, liquids and wine

• Dental cast linings

• HVAC flexible duct connectors

• Drilling fluid additives

• Low density insulating board (often referred to as AIB or asbestos insulating board) and ceiling tiles;

• Asbestos-cement pipe (made until the early 1990s by at least one manufacturer);

• Asbestos-cement sheets and pipes for construction, casing for water and electrical/telecommunication services;

• Thermal and chemical insulation (e.g., fire rated doors, limpet spray, lagging and gaskets)

"In 2010, Washington State banned asbestos in automotive brakes starting in 2014." This presumably means that brakes still have asbestos in them even though above stated that they started replacing them with non-asbestos replacements in mid-1990's. 1980's is date on stopping ceiling tiles with asbestos. Another potential side-effect of terrorist attack is asbestos exposure: "Inhalation of a mixture of asbestos and other toxicants is thought to be linked to the unusually high death rate of emergency service workers from cancer since the disaster. Many thousands more are now thought to be at risk of developing cancer due to this exposure with those who have died so far being only the 'tip of the iceberg'." Of course as long as the temperatures remain under a certain point, after that asbestos becomes non-hazardous: "Asbestos can be recycled by transforming it into harmless silicate glass. A process of thermal decomposition at 1000–1250 °C produces a mixture of non-hazardous silicate phases, and at temperatures above 1250 °C it produces silicate glass." Also, if the asbestos is adequately wet it will prevent exposure by explosion of a building with asbestos: "The phrase "adequately wet" is an environmental term referring to the handling of asbestos containing work, such as the demolition of older houses containing carcinogenic asbestos tiles or roof materials. Since there is no minimum threshold for a safe level of outdoor asbestos particle concentration, it should be handled by making it wet in order to prevent the escape of particles. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines the term 'adequately wet' as: "sufficiently mixed or penetrated with liquid to prevent the release of particulates"." Does this mean water or any other similar liquid?

****UPDATE****
The usage of asbestos was never actually banned. Things can still be sold and created with asbestos in them. The restrictions on asbestos is the limit of how much a person can be exposed to- within certain limits set by OSHA and EPA. Typically that means that asbestos material is ok where it is as long as it isn't friable- meaning able to release asbestos fibers in the air by hand pressure. This does create problems when renovating or demolishing, which happens a lot with the older buildings that have asbestos.
Unfortunately they do not burn the asbestos to change it into something less harmful. It is simply buried in a landfill where the fibers can't get into the air. The next form of asbestos is tiger eye-after more time, moisture, and pressure in the cracks in the earth.
The real danger of asbestos are the tiny fibers which our bodies do not have a way to remove from our body. The minute ones (at least 5 micrometers long with a 3:1 length-width aspect ratio according to regulatory agencies) get stuck in our tissues and bug them to cancer. The wet method is just to prevent fibers from getting released, as much as it can. Anything that small that gets lodged in our tissues that doesn't belong will probably have the same result.

In Defense of Nothing is Original

I agree with Austin Kleon that the idea that nothing is original fills me with hope. It saves me the trauma of thinking that my idea is too similar to another idea that someone came up with before and thus I can't use it. I love how he explains that we take our different sources to create a new thing. Our "originality" comes from using different doses of different influences. My example to demonstrate this is Duchamp mentioned in Kleon's book- Duchamp definitely looked at art with a different perspective than the rest of the world, but what he really did was take a perspective he learned elsewhere and applied it to his art.

The ancestry that I am currently researching is the Sherlock BBC television series. I have attributed the writing predominately to Steven Moffat, but I am doing my research to find the other brains behind the genius.  In so doing I discovered this video from Ben Stephenson and it is coincidentally on this topic. I love it because he discusses how they took the traditional crime show and added a unique feel to it to make it something more. I completely agree that the result was amazing.

I have not managed to successfully embed the video, but I will post the link. Please enjoy!

www.bbcamerica.com/sherlock/videos/head-of-bbc-drama-takes-us-behind-the-lens-of-sherlock/

Why I am writing about Steven Moffat

I am a big fan of Doctor Who and Sherlock. British TV definitely is my type because I like the intelligent humor and complex themes. I love how Steven Moffat manages to tie so many things together and to use his resources wisely. I mean he uses Doctor Who's timey-wimey mess to create an excellent backwards-forwards story line that is readable and complex. And with Sherlock, the conflict throughout each episode to season builds to create a bigger whole. I just love it.

Sherlock from BBC series (picture from www.theguardian.com)

I do enjoy writing stories and short scripts. My best stories come from my mind while I'm sleeping. I call this "my brain is smarter than I am". My dreams are usually complex and multilayered which helps me build complex story-lines. I do also dabble in comedic spoofs from time to time- then I take from a common story and tweak it. Unfortunately, I don't have the best sense in what people think is funny and so it doesn't typically go so well. This is probably because I have the intellectual humor that isn't as popular in the US, but the British mix it well with the other sense of humor so all parties are entertained. Luckily, co-conspirators and observing the great shows will help me overcome those obstacles.

Doctor Who (from www.wallpaperhi.com)

I don't expect to become a famous writer for TV shows or movies, but I wouldn't reject the opportunity. I am working on a project with a co-conspirator at the moment on a writing project I hope to share when it is done. Practice is what helps, so I'm going to start writing. I also need to find more influences, which is hard when I want morally good input so what I create can also be good.

Steven Moffat Mini-Bio

Steven Moffat was an average English teacher who could write amazing stories. One day his dad got to talk to some producers of TV shows and got his son a spot to have some of his scripts seen. From there he wrote much of the most amazing British TV shows. He has great talent and connects episodes in a way that we can keep up with where the season is going and be entertained and satisfied in watching just one episode.

Information from Wikipedia mixed in with a little bit of opinion from personal experience. Picture from a Google Image search.