Ratings Creep

By Kayley Erlandson

A possible editorial for Plugged In magazine:

The rating system was invented to help viewers get a feel for the content in a film before they saw it. But however noble the intentions for creating the rating system, there are some flaws.

After a while, filmmakers learned how to play the system, resulting in “ratings creep”. Ratings creep is when a movie manages to slide into a different rating grade (usually lower) by slicing off just the right amount of objectionable content, but still retaining the qualities of a different rating. For instance, a movie that was originally rated “R” cuts some swear words out or some sexual content and garners a “PG-13” rating. An excellent example of “rating creep” is this year’s Best Picture winner, The King’s Speech. It was originally rated “R” for language. There are two scenes of a man using swear words during his speech therapy, during which the f-word and s-word can be heard about 20 times. A PG-13 movie can only have three f-words at the most. An appeal was made by the Weinstein Company, but ultimately The King’s Speech was reedited and received a PG-13 rating. The difference between the two versions of the film? All except one of the f-words had been changed to the s-word. It still retained the same content, but one obscenity was exchanged for the other.

The ‘rating creep’ isn’t a new phenomenon. It happened in the 1980’s, when “PG” movies were getting away with more than they should have. Parents complained and this led to the invention of the PG-13 rating, to level the playing field between the “R” and the “PG”.

But what’s next?

Should there be another rating between “R” and “PG-13” to alleviate the PG-13’s that barely earned their rating? And will that really stop the rating creep?

According to Valley News Live claiming a 30% chance that the Sheyenne River will rise to 20.4 feet by the end of the week, the Valley City area was in heavy need of preparation. The Bismarck Tribune reported that the second phase of City Administrator Jon Cameron’s plan would boost the sandbag stockpile to 150,000. After this second phase was called into action after the Valley Flood Watch marked the water at 14.59, high school and college students were supposed to step in to help with sandbagging and dike building efforts.

However, according to an article in the Valley City Times Record, only 30 volunteers turned out by 1:30 pm on Monday. However, in the days to come, the college campus would play a big part in filling the required number of sandbags. “We had a good turnout,” said the President of VCSU’s Student Senate, Kendra Krueger, “Each day there were students present, a good amount was filled. Keeping it interactive makes it more entertaining. We need to lean on each other for support.”

“Some people complain about sandbagging,” said freshman Jamel Mueller, “But I thought it was fun since I went with my friends.”

With the initial lack of turnout for sandbag volunteers, should the local education systems make it mandatory for young people to assist when there is the threat of a flood?

“It shouldn’t be mandatory,” said senior Theresa Foertsch, “But if something is threatening our community, we all have to protect it.”

“I don’t believe it should be mandatory,” said Jodi Shorma, a faculty member at Valley City State University, “Patriotism is voluntary. Voting is voluntary. Joining the military is currently voluntary. Filling and placing sandbags to save a city should be voluntary.

Some teachers, such as Shorma, are even requiring their entire class to meet up at Sandbag Central for class credit. “Of the 22 students in my class, all but two filled and stacked sandbags together,” said Shorma.

The next step is to build dikes around possible areas that are prone to flooding. According to an article published in the Times Record on Monday April 4^th, there will also be temporary levees, built to 22.5 feet, that will also go up in centrally located City Park and Chautauqua Park in the northeast part of town.
"The community really came together to start fighting this flood,” said VCSU senior Loni Sallee, “It's great to see everyone working together. I think we'll be prepared to face this flood."

References

Luessen, D., Morris, L., & Riemerman, P. (2011, April 5). Disappointing turnout delays goals, stresses police force. Valley City Times Record, 133(67), pp. 1, 2.

Morris, L. (2011, April 4). With clay, sandbags, HESCOs, city combats rising Sheyenne. Valley City Times Record, 133(66), pp. 1, 6.

News and Flood Information for the Red River Valley. (2011, April 7). In Valley Flood Watch. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://valleyfloodwatch.com/

Valley City Flood Preps. (2011, April 2). In Valley News Live. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://www.valleynewslive.com/Global/story.asp?S=14371769

Valley City reassesses flood protection plan, fills additional 75K sandbags. (2011, April 2). Bismarck Tribune, 133(66), pp. 1, 6. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_5571fe50-5af8-11e0-87b6-001cc4c002e0.html

The Radiation Status

By Kayley Erlandson

Although Japan is struggling to contain its radiation leak, the radiation levels in Hong Kong exceed those in Tokyo. Many countries have naturally occurring radiation levels that exceed Tokyo’s. If this is the case, the fear of radiation may be doing more damage than the radiation itself.

Radiation in Japan

Radiation has been detected in ocean water and tap water in Japan, a country still recovering from its earthquake. The effects are allegedly unclear at this point in time. Since food in Japan has been contaminated, I’m wondering if this situation will escalate or become another “false alarm”.

True Grit Review

By Kayley Erlandson

Listen carefully. Can you hear it? That's the sound of the Oscar buzz surrounding this remake of the classic John Wayne movie.

Despite the Coen brothers' tendency to turn movie genres on their heads, True Grit is essentially a western, although it takes on a slightly parodic, yet loving, approach. It’s darker and dirtier than the more light-hearted westerns of decades past, but amidst the bloodshed, it still manages to be fun.