October 2, 2008
Oh goody. I really needed to wake up to this news today. Its bad enough that work is sparse right now — on top of it all, the Screen Actors Guild (the film actors union) is preparing to vote on October 18th regarding whether or not the union should go on strike. It would be the second such strike this year in my industry, a strike which has been looming for many months as talks continue to break down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said the economy is in trouble and urged actors not to strike.
“It is unrealistic for SAG negotiators now to expect even better terms during this grim financial climate,” the AMPTP said in a statement. “This is the harsh economic reality, and no strike will change that reality.”
The SAG’s national board, a 71-member body, is scheduled to meet Oct. 18. A simple majority is needed to approve the call for a strike vote.
On the flip side, can I really blame the union for wanting to strike? The AMPTP is now attempting to pressure the union, using the economic crisis as a reason not to re-negotiate their terms. Um, okay, so…what about your other contract agreements? Are you saying that you won’t be able to honor them because the economy is in trouble?
The guild wants union coverage of all shows made for the Internet, regardless of budget, and residual payments for actors on made-for-Internet shows that are reused on the Internet. It also demands protections for actors during work stoppages.
The alliance has stuck by a final offer it made June 30, which it said mirrored deals accepted by directors, a smaller actors union called the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and writers following their strike.
Oh okay. So, AFTRA gets theirs, and DGA members (directors) get theirs, but actors don’t? That’s great for me, but not so great for our actors. I’m sorry but um…that dog won’t hunt.
I support the union in their negotiating position & hope a strike will be averted. If not, it’s going to be a bumpy autumn.
The Associated Press: Actors union moves closer to strike vote.
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September 24, 2008
I am always amazed when I read stories like this one from Idolator where a celebrity comes out and admits something so inherently, ridiculously obvious that its almost a non-story. Was I shocked when George Michael admitted to being gay? Okay, that one blew my mind. Neil Patrick Harris? I *really* wasn’t expecting that one.
Clay Aiken, though?
The cover story from people might as well have had a picture of Chris Rock holding a baby and said “YES, I’M BLACK.”
Anyways, I’m glad he figured it out. I guess.
Clay Aiken Comes Out Of The Closet: Nation’s Craft Stores Prepare For Lower Aiken-Related Revenues.
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September 19, 2008
The interception of a submarine containing 7 tons of cocaine (worth a street value of $196 million) has sent shockwaves through the crack addict community. As early as 8 pm on Friday night, lines began forming at crack houses in cities big and small all throughout the United States on short-term investors fear of dramatic price increases and the potential for drought to occur. At one well-known location in Memphis, clamoring, glassy-eyed baseheads stood hoping for a chance to re-up, gripped with terror as the demand for product suddenly stretched clear around the block.
“When I first heard the news,” a man who would only be identified as “Pookie” told Cherry Blossom Special, “I was … well, it was quite disturbing. I actually…I was at my partner’s house and…we had just started hitting the pipe. His buddy had got up and walked down to the store to get a pack of Newports and I guess he forgot he had left the TV on. Then they said 7 tons of cocaine… and in my mind, I was like, ‘WHAT?’ Man, I got so spooked, I broke my stem and almost set my hand on fire.”
“Pookie” was not alone in his concerns. All cross the country, within minutes “Pookies” everywhere, along with dozens of others from around the way, were driven to go on a mission. Klingons began converging en masse lining up out front of the spots, desperately trying to catch a price break before news of the submarine seizure reached the bomb squads and corners. Zoomers capitalized on the situation, leading to widespread complaints about “bunk shit”. Even “kibbles & bits”, pieces which previously ended up on floors, in sofa cushions or behind furniture, have become valued commodities.
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A Midgett armed boarding party quickly climbed aboard the sub and found 195 bales of cocaine in a large forward compartment, authorities said.
Coast Guard cutter stops cocaine-laden submarine.
I always say, there’s nothing like an armed boarding party of Midgetts riding a submarine filled with cocaine. (HT: goldenfiddle.com)
UPDATE:
The first seizure occurred September 12…
Cocaine smugglers turn to submarines, feds say
If I had that much cocaine, my first seizure would have occurred before the submarine left.
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September 18, 2008
I had the opportunity last year to work on a wonderful, politically-charged film in Memphis called Nothing But the Truth. The film, starring Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, David Schwimmer, Vera Farmiga and Matt Dillon, and directed by Rod Lurie, debuted a couple of weeks ago at the Toronto Film Festival and the initial reaction has been quite good. Here’s a link to some trailers for the film for you to check out. (HT: memphis. cool. movies.)
Trailers by Film: Nothing But the Truth - Trailer Addict.
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A couple of days ago, word came around that Governor Sarah Palin’s personal email at Yahoo! had been infiltrated by hackers who post on the internet website 4chan. Through some methodology, they had been able to compromise her email, take screenshots, and then post them before a conscientious objector to the activity changed the password back.
The invasion of the Governor’s privacy has raised a number of questions about the privacy & security of public email providers, furthering concern and speculation that such use by government officials to conduct official government business would fall outside the realms of disclosure.
Months ago, Governor Palin admitted openly to routinely having used public email, even prided herself on the choice. Now that the email has been compromised, people on all sides were given a clear, if momentary, glimpse into what amounts to, essentially, very little: nothing untoward was revealed whatsoever. Quite the contrary: it bolstered confidences of people who supported Governor Palin, both sympathetically and contextually, for using public email in her practice as governor of Alaska.
Meanwhile, the CIA and the FBI appear to have become directly involved in tracking down the people (or persons) who infiltrated the governor’s privacy, a completely appropriate action in light of who, and what, was being tampered with. Blame has been placed on someone who, in the eyes of some, must clearly be an Obama supporter — someone who wanted to blow the whistle on some form of corruption. It has stimulated response from both Republicans and Democrats, denouncing the fiendish motivations behind such actions, creating increased finger-pointing by people who were already looking for reasons to chastise one side or the other.
The media has wondered, publicly, how such an attack could have occurred. But in the media’s coverage of this debacle, a series of critical reasoning flaws and motives have been overlooked.
Chief among these logic problems, to this writer, seems simple: what if it was merely an “inside job” by the McCain camp meant to discredit Obama supporters and create a firestorm of controversy?
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September 12, 2008
Senator Barack Obama stopped in Dover, New Hampshire today to hold a forum on what his tax plan would be as President of the United States. Responding to a question from an audience member at his “Discussion on Tax Relief for the Middle Class” regarding his tendency not to engage the Republican attack ads, Obama answered by explaining, “My philosophy…is that I’m going to tell the truth.” Expressing his viewpoint, Obama invoked a sentiment that people often use, telling the audience member in no uncertain terms that he would continue to respond to false or misleading attacks by the McCain camp with a simple retort: telling the truth about who they are and what they stand for. “If you don’t stop lying about me,” Obama said, “I’m going to have to start telling the truth about YOU.”
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