tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post7258567947514282860..comments2024-02-24T11:50:55.413-08:00Comments on Lydia Cornell: VETERANS DAY * A NEW MISSIONFans and Friends of Lydia Cornellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512357844572930333noreply@blogger.comBlogger246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-62257726363806153942007-11-15T22:32:00.000-08:002007-11-15T22:32:00.000-08:00clif said...Is George Bush auditioning for a place...clif said...<BR/>Is George Bush auditioning for a place as a replacement writer for the Daily Show during the writers strike?<BR/><BR/>US dollar will get stronger: Bush<BR/><BR/>US President George W. Bush predicted in an interview Tuesday that the battered US dollar will get stronger because the US economy is robust.<BR/><BR/>"If people would look at the strength of our economy, they'd realize why, you know, I believe that the dollar will be stronger," Bush told the fledgling Fox Business Network.<BR/><BR/>"We have a strong dollar policy, and it's important for the world to know that. We also believe it's important for the market to set the value of the dollar relative to other currencies," the president said.<BR/><BR/>Bush cited low US inflation figures, modest interest rates, job growth, and gross domestic product growth and declared "the underpinnings are strong."<BR/><BR/>Asked whether he was satisfied with current exchange rates, Bush replied: "I am satisfied with the fact that we have a strong dollar policy and know that the market ought to be setting the exchange rate."<BR/><BR/>If Bush can deliver this comedy with a good dead pan delivery, John Oliver might be good to worry about the competition."<BR/><BR/>Its pathetic Clif that this jackass that is the head of our country could either be that delusionally stupid and ignorant to actually believe the BS he is saying ................or that he has the nerve to insult our intelligence with that big of a lie.<BR/><BR/>Personally i think its both!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-13834134738266903872007-11-15T10:23:00.000-08:002007-11-15T10:23:00.000-08:00New thread is up. Forgot to post something Ed Sch...New thread is up. Forgot to post something Ed Schulz said: "Guiliani is worse than Bush -- he's a Nazi. I'd rather have 4 more years of Bush than Guiliani!!" <BR/><BR/>Please post on the new thread. thanks<BR/><BR/>Suzi Q- great to hear from you!!Fans and Friends of Lydia Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512357844572930333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-20105413896261780142007-11-15T08:34:00.000-08:002007-11-15T08:34:00.000-08:00Suzie-Q (S-Q) said... Good Evening Lydia & All! ;)...<I>Suzie-Q (S-Q) said... <BR/>Good Evening Lydia & All! ;)</I><BR/><BR/>Well, hello stranger!Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664920037425489644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-57528971864808322962007-11-15T07:58:00.000-08:002007-11-15T07:58:00.000-08:00Pretty funny Suxy.Pretty funny Suxy.Meet the Worfeushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16488142527364797150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-15794779452699549102007-11-15T06:53:00.000-08:002007-11-15T06:53:00.000-08:00Is George Bush auditioning for a place as a replac...Is George Bush auditioning for a place as a replacement writer for the <I>Daily Show</I> during the writers strike?<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071113/pl_afp/uscurrencydollarpoliticsbush_071113234035" REL="nofollow"> US dollar will get stronger: Bush</A><BR/><BR/><I>US President George W. Bush predicted in an interview Tuesday that the battered US dollar will get stronger because the US economy is robust.<BR/><BR/>"If people would look at the strength of our economy, they'd realize why, you know, I believe that the dollar will be stronger," Bush told the fledgling Fox Business Network.<BR/><BR/>"We have a strong dollar policy, and it's important for the world to know that. We also believe it's important for the market to set the value of the dollar relative to other currencies," the president said.<BR/><BR/>Bush cited low US inflation figures, modest interest rates, job growth, and gross domestic product growth and declared "the underpinnings are strong."<BR/><BR/>Asked whether he was satisfied with current exchange rates, Bush replied: "I am satisfied with the fact that we have a strong dollar policy and know that the market ought to be setting the exchange rate."</I><BR/><BR/>If Bush can deliver this comedy with a good dead pan delivery, John Oliver might be good to worry about the competition.clifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01789324243613548212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-5474977454931124652007-11-15T06:43:00.000-08:002007-11-15T06:43:00.000-08:00How do you know a former Bush official has a pardo...How do you know a former Bush official has a pardon in their future, (well except for the fact they helped Bush rip up the constitution, run an illegal war of aggression and illegally torture people), well beside all that they get a ...............<BR/><BR/><I>Legal defense fund</I> of their very own,<BR/><BR/>Scooter had one, so did Jack Abramoff.<BR/><BR/>well now;<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004713.php" REL="nofollow">Contribute to the Alberto R. Gonzales Legal Expense Trust:</A><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>There are rare moments when you, the citizen, can feel like you've really made a difference.<BR/><BR/>Not since Scooter Libby has a devoted, loyal public servant been in such need of your help. Alberto Gonzales was set upon by hordes of journalists and Democrats and finally stepped down for the good of his beloved Justice Department. But his ordeal is not over. Because his enemies misrepresented certain carefully-chosen phrasings as lies, he is being investigated by that same department. But what can I do?" you ask?<BR/><BR/>Contribute to the Alberto R. Gonzales Legal Expense Trust:<BR/><BR/> <I>David G. Leitch, a Gonzales friend and general counsel at the Ford Motor Co., wrote in an e-mail solicitation to potential contributors last month that Gonzales is "innocent of any wrongdoing" but does not have the means to pay for his legal defense after a career spent mostly in public service.<BR/><BR/> "In the hyper-politicized atmosphere that has descended on Washington, an innocent man cannot simply trust that the truth will out," Leitch wrote. "He must engage highly competent legal counsel to represent him. That costs money, money that Al Gonzales doesn't have."<BR/><BR/> Leitch also wrote that Gonzales's attorney, George J. Terwilliger III of White & Case in Washington, "has substantially reduced his fees to represent Al Gonzales, but the costs will likely be high nonetheless." A contribution form asking for donations to the Alberto R. Gonzales Legal Expense Trust suggests amounts from $500 to $5,000.</I><BR/><BR/>Sure, the business elite, former administration officials and ambassadors (and then finally the President) came through for Scooter Libby. But Gonzales is still exposed to the forces of injustice. Won't you do your part?<BR/><BR/>You might never have a similar chance again. The Washington Post notes that "legal defense funds are common in Washington, but not for attorneys general." So act now!clifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01789324243613548212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-89990596775333930872007-11-15T04:13:00.000-08:002007-11-15T04:13:00.000-08:00AP) — Chevron has agreed to pay $30 million to set...AP) — Chevron has agreed to pay $30 million to settle charges that it had made illegal kickbacks to Iraq for oil purchased in 2001 and 2002 under the United Nations’ oil-for-food program.<BR/><BR/>The Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday that Chevron had agreed to the settlement under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act without admitting or denying the charges. But the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York said Chevron could still be prosecuted for criminal tax violations.<BR/><BR/>Chevron, based in San Ramon, Calif., agreed to remit $25 million in profits and pay a $3 million civil penalty. The company will also pay $2 million to the Office of Foreign Asset Controls of the Treasury Department.<BR/><BR/>Of the $25 million, Chevron will forfeit $20 million under an agreement with the United States attorney’s office in New York and pay $5 million under an agreement with the district attorney’s office in Manhattan.<BR/><BR/>The S.E.C. said in its complaint that Chevron found out in 2001 that the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organization was demanding surcharges and that the company adopted a policy prohibiting payment.<BR/><BR/>The company then purchased, through intermediaries, about 78 million barrels of crude oil from Iraq under 36 contracts from April 2001 to May 2002. But these traders failed to follow the company’s prohibition against kickbacks, and Chevron’s management did not ensure compliance, the S.E.C. said.<BR/><BR/>A company spokesman, Donald Campbell, said in a statement: “The U.S. government advises us that one former Chevron crude oil trader participated in transactions when he knew or should have known that surcharges were to be paid by the third-party merchants from which Chevron purchased the crude oil. <BR/><BR/>Corruption in the U.S Oil Industry: Another result of the Bush presidency.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1124911443842389762007-11-15T04:06:00.000-08:002007-11-15T04:06:00.000-08:00More American military veterans have been committi...More American military veterans have been committing suicide than US soldiers have been dying in Iraq, it was claimed yesterday.<BR/><BR/>At least 6,256 US veterans took their lives in 2005, at an average of 17 a day, according to figures broadcast last night. Former servicemen are more than twice as likely than the rest of the population to commit suicide.<BR/><BR/>Such statistics compare to the total of 3,863 American military deaths in Iraq since the invasion in 2003 - an average of 2.4 a day, according to the website ICasualties.org.<BR/><BR/>The rate of suicides among veterans prompted claims that the US was suffering from a “mental health epidemic” – often linked to post-traumatic stress.<BR/><BR/>Another result of the Bush presidency.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-49098019780206242382007-11-15T04:05:00.000-08:002007-11-15T04:05:00.000-08:00A wave of foreclosures in South Florida among borr...A wave of foreclosures in South Florida among borrowers with shaky credit will cause the property values of nearly 1.7 million homeowners to sink an average $13,000 in Miami-Dade County, and $6,400 in Broward, a new report says.<BR/><BR/>The report released Tuesday by the Center for Responsible Lending estimates the two counties will lose more than $17.2 billion in their tax base in the coming years resulting from some 35,000 expected foreclosures among subprime borrowers.<BR/><BR/>The state of Florida could lose $23.5 billion from its tax base, the economic spillover of an expected 98,000 foreclosures coming from subprime mortgages made in 2005 and 2006. Most of those loans came with adjustable interest rates that are now resetting, accelerating foreclosures, the center said.<BR/><BR/>Another result of the faltering Bush economy.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-52809271826757682892007-11-14T20:20:00.000-08:002007-11-14T20:20:00.000-08:00John Stewart would be having a field day with all ...John Stewart would be having a field day with all the evidence coming out against the Reich Wing!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-74451596750010277452007-11-14T20:10:00.000-08:002007-11-14T20:10:00.000-08:00Dear Abby:My husband is a liar and a cheat. He has...Dear Abby:<BR/><BR/>My husband is a liar and a cheat. He has cheated on me from the beginning,<BR/>and, when I confront him, he denies everything.<BR/><BR/>What's worse, everyone knows that he cheats on<BR/>me. It is so humiliating. Also, since he lost his job six years ago, he<BR/>hasn't even looked for a new one. All he does all day is smoke cigars,<BR/>cruise around and shoot the breeze with his buddies while I have to work to<BR/>pay the bills.<BR/><BR/>Since our daughter went away to college he doesn't even pretend to like me<BR/>and hints that I may be a lesbian. What should I do?<BR/><BR/>Signed: Clueless<BR/><BR/><BR/>Dear Clueless:<BR/><BR/>Grow up and dump him. Good grief, woman. You don't need him anymore! You're<BR/>a United States Senator from New York running for President of the United<BR/>States Act like one.Suzie-Q (S-Q)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13726628714596925390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-67200742143156304672007-11-14T20:03:00.000-08:002007-11-14T20:03:00.000-08:00BTW it is a crying shame the daily show is not in ...BTW it is a crying shame the daily show is not in production;<BR/><BR/>Think what Jon Stewart would have done with the FACT the Inspector general didn't know that his own brother worked for a company which was supposedly being investigated by his office, and the central theme in contractors being out of control in Iraq by the MSM for weeks?<BR/><BR/>Sometimes you don't need writers, sometimes the reichwing fooles actually try to LIVE the comedy.clifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01789324243613548212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-84906729148655981762007-11-14T19:38:00.000-08:002007-11-14T19:38:00.000-08:00Good Evening Lydia & All! ;) Larry said... Nov...Good Evening Lydia & All! ;)<BR/><BR/><BR/> Larry said...<BR/><BR/> November 14, 2007 -- The TV writers' strike is costing David Letterman and Jay Leno more than $100,000 a night each. <BR/><BR/>Can you believe that? Incredible...Suzie-Q (S-Q)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13726628714596925390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-62782042739438557812007-11-14T18:54:00.000-08:002007-11-14T18:54:00.000-08:00For the wingnuts here and elsewhere, IG stands for...For the wingnuts here and elsewhere, IG stands for <B> Inspector General</B>, and his <B>job</B> is to INVESTIGATE <A HREF="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/058808.php" REL="nofollow">criminal , illegal and unethical actions</A> in the department he works in, so why does the testimony of the IG of the State Department, Howard "Cookie" Krongard look FUNNY?<BR/><BR/>I mean when <A HREF="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/058824.php" REL="nofollow">he was asked</A> if his BROTHER Buzzy Krongard set on a board of advisers to Blackwater, HE denied it, but when people CALLED Blackwater <I>they</I> admitted it?<BR/><BR/>The inspector general didn't know HIS own brother set on a board of a company he was BLOCKING investigations into for illegal activities in IRAQ?<BR/><BR/>Sometimes the lies of the right challenge the ability of a three year old to believe in them, but the reichwing trolls here seem to be able to do just that.<BR/><BR/>BTW <A HREF="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/058858.php" REL="nofollow">"Cookie" called "Buzzy"</A> during the break, and got the straight dope from him finnally, he was working for Blackwater ......<BR/><BR/>Heck of an "investigator" ya got there Condilies-a-lot, and Georgie, no wonder you clowns get away with so much criminality in Washington now a days.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully the NEW attorney General, for you mentally challenged trolls, he is the guy who investigates CRIMES, not covers them up, is willing to look into allegations of <A HREF="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/058892.php" REL="nofollow">PERJURY</A>, against the guy who claimed such a stupid lie where the truth exists. <BR/><BR/>PS; one of the thingy's this clown was supposed to INVESTIGATE, was the Murder of Iraqis at the Nisour Square shooting, which the IG of the state department could find, but the FBI could .......<BR/><BR/>Which lead to comment like this from Josh marshal at <A HREF="" REL="nofollow">TPM</A><BR/><BR/><I>In case you're joining the programming late, Howard "Cookie" Krongard is the Inspector General at the State Department, the guy charged with investigating fraud, waste or wrongdoing at the department or by contractors working for the department. But he seems to have spent his time blocking or hobbling investigations into big money military contracting outfits like Blackwater, Dyncorp and others.<BR/><BR/>(snip)<BR/><BR/>Beyond that though there's a lot of evidence emerging that the State Department has been peculiarly lax in its dealings with a number of major military contractors in Iraq, seemingly enabling a lot of the subsequent rip-offs of taxpayer money as well as arguably creating the climate in which incidents like the Nisour Square shooting were allowed to take place.</I><BR/><BR/>another note;<BR/><BR/><I>Cookie's brother (small world) was #3 at CIA. And at the committee hearing this morning it emerged that "Buzzy" Krongard is on Blackwater's advisory board.</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>I don't know if that was before or after Dusty Foggo, another Bush criminal who was FIRED and his home searched as part of the Duke Cunningham Brent Wilkes bribery scandals, you know the one where the "dukester" plead guilty, and Wilkes was just found guilty ......<BR/><BR/>Ah Bush has brought new levels of criminality to Washington, levels only Nixon in recent memory ever came close to.clifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01789324243613548212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-46575062367882392512007-11-14T18:23:00.000-08:002007-11-14T18:23:00.000-08:00A roadside bomb has killed a US soldier and two Ir...A roadside bomb has killed a US soldier and two Iraqi civilians in the centre of Baghdad, US military officials say. <BR/><BR/>At least five other people were injured by the explosion near the heavily defended Green Zone housing the US embassy and government ministries. <BR/><BR/>Correspondents say it is the biggest attack in the area for weeks since an army drive to restore security. <BR/><BR/>The military also said three US soldiers were killed in separate attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday. <BR/><BR/>Two soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Diyala province and a third was shot dead in the city of Mosul. <BR/><BR/>Rush hour <BR/><BR/>The roadside bomb in the capital targeted a US convoy near the Green Zone, badly damaging an armoured Stryker vehicle. <BR/><BR/>Witnesses say the bomb was set off at the foot of a watchtower during the morning rush hour, when hundreds of Iraqis were waiting to enter the zone. <BR/><BR/>The device was described by US officials as an "explosively formed penetrator" which fires a slug of molten metal capable of penetrating even the most heavily armoured vehicles, the Associated Press news agency notes. <BR/><BR/>Another civilian was killed in a car bombing in northern Baghdad. <BR/><BR/>Thus more die due to Bush's craving for complete dominance.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-66226583843887643232007-11-14T18:09:00.000-08:002007-11-14T18:09:00.000-08:00So, since I've been updating folks on the Writers ...So, since I've been updating folks on the Writers Guild of America strike against Big Media, a number of people have written me or commented: what can we do to help if we are not WGA members and/or don't live in Los Angeles or New York City? Other than console you for having to live anywhere but New York City, I can offer something very concrete that you can do--something that could make a huge difference in this strike.<BR/> <BR/>Make a phone call. Yes. that's it--or write a letter if you prefer.<BR/><BR/>Don't wait and say, "okay, I'll do this later." Be an Organizer. Drag your eyes away from your computer now--right now (okay, for the West Coast numbers if you are living on East Coast time, phone the East Coast honchos now and, then, put the West Coast list on your list of "to-dos" before lunch or before your pre-lunch nap)--and dial...<BR/><BR/>Anne Sweeney, President, Disney-ABC Television Group: 818-560-1000 <BR/> The Walt Disney Company, 500 S. Buena Vista Street <BR/> Burbank CA 91521<BR/><BR/>Kevin Reilly, President, Fox Entertainment: 310-369-1000 <BR/> Fox Broadcasting, 10201 West Pico Blvd. <BR/> Los Angeles, CA 90064<BR/><BR/>Bruce Rosenblum, President, Warner Bros. Television Group: 818-954-6000 <BR/> Warner Bros Studios, 3400 Riverside Drive <BR/> Burbank, CA 91505<BR/><BR/>Philippe Dauman, President/CEO, Viacom: 212-258-6000 <BR/> 1515 Broadway <BR/> New York, NY 10036<BR/><BR/>Leslie Moonves, President/CEO, CBS Corporation: 212-975-4321 <BR/> CBS, 51 West 52nd St. <BR/> New York, NY 10019<BR/><BR/>Jeff Zucker, President/CEO, NBC Universal: 818-777-1000 <BR/> 100 Universal City Plaza <BR/> Universal City, CA 91608 <BR/><BR/>And after you've made the calls, SEND THIS LIST TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!<BR/><BR/> Points to make:<BR/><BR/>Writers are asking for fair compensation when content is streamed or downloaded on the Internet. Right now, writers are getting ZERO. Publishers claims that everything on-line is only promotional are just bogus--they are selling advertising on-line!!!<BR/>The media business is healthy. CEOs brag to Wall Street that they are making money from new media--all the better to raise money and keep the share price going up (which helps CEOs profit from generous stock options they are given) but they are hypocritically crying poverty when it comes to paying writers.<BR/><BR/>If you need to, you can use these statistics to show how profitable media companies are and how well the CEOs are being compensated.<BR/><BR/>If you need more background, you can go to the website of either the Writers Guild of America west or the Writers Guild of America east.<BR/><BR/>So, don't wait. Do it now. If thousands of people started calling these CEOs, Big Media would be hearing from the very customers they want to attract to buy content.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-87498857012875393052007-11-14T17:13:00.000-08:002007-11-14T17:13:00.000-08:00Democrat John Edwards vowed Wednesday to labor lea...Democrat John Edwards vowed Wednesday to labor leaders that if elected president he will reverse trade and tax policies — some of them dating from Bill Clinton's administration — that he said are designed to wipe out middle-class working families.<BR/><BR/>He introduced his mother and father — Wallace and Bobbie Edwards — to underscore his argument that as the son of a mill worker he understands union issues best among the candidates.<BR/><BR/>"I grew up in a Carolina mill town and I've seen firsthand how people's lives are devastated when factories close down and those manufacturing jobs are lost," said Edwards. "Manufacturing has suffered more than any other sector of the economy because of currency manipulation, illegal foreign subsidies, bad trade deals and rising energy and health costs."<BR/><BR/>The former North Carolina senator capped three days of appearances by Democratic candidates before a regional conference of the United Auto Workers, a union that has a heavy influence on Democratic politics in Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses.<BR/><BR/>Edwards was sharply critical of rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, accusing her of being financed by corporate money and reminding about 250 labor leaders that her husband was responsible for trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement that have drained millions of jobs.<BR/><BR/>"The person who has raised the most money from Washington lobbyists is not a Republican, it's a Democrat," said Edwards. "The person who has raised the most money from the defense industry is not a Republican, it's a Democrat. The answer to every one of these questions is Senator Clinton. We have to say the system does not work, it is broken."<BR/><BR/>Clinton has raised more money than any other candidate, about $80 million; Edwards' has raised $30 million. Clinton has accepted $567,950 from lobbyists, while Edwards' has accepted $18,900, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.<BR/><BR/>While Edwards doesn't accept money directly from federal lobbyists, he is not above benefiting from the broader lobbying community, accepting money from firms that have lobbying operations.<BR/><BR/>Edwards veered from his middle-class pitch to remind the union leaders of Clinton's ties to trade deals that union leaders strongly fought.<BR/><BR/>"Does anybody really believe that anything will change if we trade a crowd of corporate Republicans for a crowd of corporate Democrats," said Edwards. "It will not happen. It is a lie."<BR/><BR/>Asked after his appearance if he included Clinton among the corporate Democrats, Edwards said: "She is part of a system that includes a lot of corporate Democrats.<BR/><BR/>"I listen to Senator Clinton and I hear her defend the status quo," said Edwards. "It's a very different perspective from mine."<BR/><BR/>Edwards argued that Clinton's history on trade issues should give union leaders pause, noting that NAFTA passed during her husband's administration.<BR/><BR/>"These trade deals didn't come about in a Republican administration, they came about in a Democratic administration," said Edwards. "This is complete insanity."<BR/><BR/>While Clinton has built a substantial lead in national polls over rivals seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, the race in Iowa is much tighter, with Clinton in a virtual three-way tie with Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.<BR/><BR/>John Edwards will reverse NAFTA: That gets him my vote.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-60774732875039503502007-11-14T17:06:00.000-08:002007-11-14T17:06:00.000-08:00A day ago, the WGA picket lines weren't crowded, t...A day ago, the WGA picket lines weren't crowded, the media attention almost nonexistent. On Tuesday, more than 2,000 strikers turned out at Universal Studios, and television news crews were literally tripping over themselves to cover their protest. The difference? Scores of familiar faces delivered by the Screen Actors Guild.<BR/><BR/>SAG members representing prominent televisions shows and feature films -- Ben Stiller, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Minnie Driver and Zach Braff among them -- transformed the picket lines into a high-profile media circus, bringing both visibility and solidarity to the labor dispute. <BR/><BR/>"It's a very basic thing that's happening: bringing attention to what's happening," said Stiller, who hit the picket lines during the lunch break for "Tropic Thunder," a movie he's directing and starring in on the Universal lot.<BR/><BR/>"Private Practice" star Amy Brenneman said she turned out for the pickets not only to bring visibility to the WGA cause but also to call attention to the below-the-line workers who had been forced into unemployment by the dispute. She said a dolly grip on her show was very likely going to start cleaning Wal-Marts to make ends meet. "Us pretty faces get camera time -- and that's the deal -- but we are up against the same thing with our contract," Brenneman said of the SAG pact, which expires in June. <BR/><BR/>Braff said that the very issues at the center of the WGA dispute -- supplemental payments for entertainment downloaded to computers and portable devices -- will also be central to the members of SAG. <BR/><BR/>"Everyone in the world knows that all of entertainment is moving to the Internet, and the argument that people are not going to make money on the Internet is preposterous," Braff said on sidewalks so crowded with actors and writers that marchers spilled onto Lankershim Boulevard. "You have to zoom out a little and look at what's going to happen to entertainment in the next 20 years. And then you have got to be fair" about how studios and networks should share in those profits.<BR/><BR/>Josh Schwartz, a writer and executive producer on "Chuck" and "Gossip Girl," was picketing with several of his shows' stars. "End the strike. I'm sick of pizza," Schwartz's picket sign read. Walking alongside him was "Chuck" star Sarah Lancaster, whose sign read, "Writers are hot." "Look," Schwartz said, "having actors out picketing will make people care. Writers will not. And we need to get the message out that this is about our future, not just dollars and cents."<BR/><BR/>Minnie Driver, the star of "The Riches," was surrounded by television and radio crews. She said she wanted to show that all artists stand together as "Davids" against the studio and network "Goliaths."<BR/><BR/>"One would hope that solidarity among artists means that you all support one another," Driver said. She dismissed the studio and network claims of poverty, especially as it relates to Internet content, as a negotiating ploy. "It's so hideously glib and revolting," she said. "All you have to do is read the paper to know that it's untrue."<BR/><BR/>Lori Loughlin, a star on the medical drama "In Case of Emergency," said her three children -- ages 16, 9 and 8 -- watch much of their entertainment on computers and video iPods. "So this is our fight too. I think that the writers are not out of line in what they are asking for."Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-29676044608122483452007-11-14T16:19:00.000-08:002007-11-14T16:19:00.000-08:00November 14, 2007 -- The TV writers' strike is cos...November 14, 2007 -- The TV writers' strike is costing David Letterman and Jay Leno more than $100,000 a night each. <BR/><BR/>Because the late-night stars have stayed off the job since the walkout began last week, CBS and NBC have stopped paying them, according to TV-industry sources who asked not to be identified and are close to both hosts. <BR/><BR/>Since Dave and Jay are among the highest-paid TV stars, their decision to honor the picket lines has cost them each a total of more than $700,000 in the first nine days of the strike. They aren't paid for Saturday and Sunday, when they don't air. <BR/><BR/>Letterman's annual salary is a reported $31.5 million, while Leno's is around $27 million. <BR/><BR/>Letterman owns his "Late Show," so when he stopped making new episodes last week, CBS ceased paying his production company. The payments include Dave's estimated $600,000 weekly salary, a knowledgeable source said. <BR/><BR/>Letterman has continued to pay his production staff, but it's not known how long that will continue. <BR/><BR/>NBC officials said they might lay off nonwriting "Tonight Show" staffers at the end of this week if the strike is still on. <BR/><BR/>Leno, an NBC employee, last week stopped receiving his $520,000 weekly salary, according to production sources. <BR/><BR/>Because NBC owns "The Tonight Show," the network is said to be exploring the idea of using guest hosts to replace Leno until he returns. But it's not known who would write those shows. <BR/><BR/>Letterman and Leno chose to stay off the job because of their close relationships with the writers who create their nightly monologues and segments. <BR/><BR/>Crossing the picket lines of the people who write most of their jokes would be a foolish career move. And besides, both late-night veterans are wealthy. <BR/><BR/>The walkout has done nothing to improve NBC's already strained relationship with Leno, who the network says will be replaced as "Tonight" show host in 2009 by Conan O'Brien. <BR/><BR/>Leno is reportedly unhappy over NBC's plans and has been making noises about jumping to a rival network - perhaps Fox or ABC. <BR/><BR/>Spokesmen for Leno and Letterman declined comment yesterday, as did NBC and CBS officials. <BR/><BR/>Letterman and Leno are each losing $100,000 per week yet they still support the writers who are on strike: Letterman and Leno, Two Great Americans.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-9124810199819617982007-11-14T15:56:00.000-08:002007-11-14T15:56:00.000-08:00I've just learned that David Letterman and his pro...I've just learned that David Letterman and his producers yesterday morning announced to his Late Show staff that they will be paid through the end of the year even though the show isn't on the air during the writers strike. "Dave's not doing this to get good press, which is why it hasn't been reported for almost two days," a source tells me. "This is really significant because, as opposed to all of the other shows, this money comes out of Dave's own pocket."<BR/><BR/>David Letterman: A True American.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-53051713760180659652007-11-14T15:55:00.000-08:002007-11-14T15:55:00.000-08:00Christopher, all of this is the reason I started t...Christopher, all of this is the reason I started this blog back in 2004-1005 after I wrote an article on left-wing Christianity vs. Ann Coulter's brand of fundamentalism. In the sidebar you can read the article (Death is Sexier than Sex...to Ann Coulter) and the history, all the blogs, etc.<BR/><BR/>Last year it got very wild on this blog as many regulars will attest. <BR/><BR/>Yes I reported this to the FBI, the police...<BR/>More on this later.Fans and Friends of Lydia Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512357844572930333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-91764052026351530642007-11-14T15:53:00.000-08:002007-11-14T15:53:00.000-08:00Federally funded "pregnancy resource centers" thro...Federally funded "pregnancy resource centers" throughout the country are receiving millions in taxpayer dollars despite promoting religious content and disseminating what critics say is misleading medical information.<BR/><BR/>Despite reservations from some in Congress, nearly $6 million in grants have been given to 21 pregnancy centers since the beginning of 2006, according to new data obtained by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Many of these centers are receiving far more federal funding then they seemingly could need.<BR/><BR/>The Northern Hill Pregnancy Care Center in Spearfish, South Dakota, for example, has been granted more than $630,000 over three years despite seeing only 110 to 150 new clients per year. The Door of Hope Pregnancy Care Center in Madisonville, Kentucky, was given more than $300,000 in federal grants over the last two years, even though the entire female population of the town (all ages) is less than 11,000. First Choice Pregnancy Center in Texarkana, Texas, meanwhile, sees between 800 and 1,000 patients annually. For that, the center has been granted more than $1.3 million over three years - an average of approximately $500 per person per year.<BR/><BR/>Executives with these centers say they are providing an invaluable medical service and support to their patients. "Our main role is to be a place of refuge for women, teens and families in a crisis pregnancy situation," Kim Banks, executive director of the Texarkana facility, told The Huffington Post.<BR/><BR/>Lies and deception: This is Bush's America.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283557503536810926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-69918394353219721332007-11-14T13:43:00.000-08:002007-11-14T13:43:00.000-08:00Carl said... Mike said... Only a FOOL would try to...Carl said... <BR/>Mike said... <BR/>Only a FOOL would try to flip houses in a declining market with record forclosures.<BR/><BR/>Not necessarily. If you choose your targets carefully, you can stand to make a fairly nice profit, still.<BR/><BR/>What you want is either brand new construction (minimal refurbishing), or a house where the foreclosure happens deep into the mortgage (meaning the purchase price the buyer paid and the bank financed is still below market), like in the death of a homeowner or a long-term marriage breaking up (or a bankruptcy due to health reasons).<BR/><BR/>Those you can flip for a tidy sum, because you're buying at distress prices.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't do it, because I simply couldn't deal with the guilt."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Agreed Carl, there is always money in vulture investing in foreclosures if you are smart................but that is not what this show looked to be about to me..........it looked like the old house flipping mania in overheated markets like Florida, California, Vegas.............in other words it looked like a show not keeping up with current trends and themes but rather focusing on past and outdated trends, like for example making a show in 2002 focusing on buying .coms and tech stocks on margin!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-25822427818064417142007-11-14T11:59:00.000-08:002007-11-14T11:59:00.000-08:00Lydia, it was my pleasure, and as soon as I saw th...Lydia, it was my pleasure, and as soon as I saw that you had Mrs Kucinich featured, I knew I had to link you.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664920037425489644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-77990249671335699702007-11-14T11:58:00.000-08:002007-11-14T11:58:00.000-08:00Talll Texan said... Gee, I wonder who's ghost writ...<I>Talll Texan said... <BR/>Gee, I wonder who's ghost writing for Lydia this morning?</I><BR/><BR/>Gee, I wonder if Widdle Cowboy has his head further up Bush's ass this morning...Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664920037425489644noreply@blogger.com