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October 31, 2005
Scary! Scary!
This Halloween is the scariest of all scarecrow!!!
more later......
Posted by mermu at 03:09 PM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2005
Antici...........
pation.
My birthday looms ever closer and I've made no plans whatsoever. Could it be I'll be celebrating this milestone with Sheeba? I hate deciding what to do on my birthday. I don't know why; I love planning and hosting parties in general. I'm definitely going to my guitar class that night; other than that...I just don't know. It'd be nice to go to dinner somewhere with one or two close friends and then perhaps participate in a group party with one or more of my Scorpio friends. One of these days I'll have to plan one of those Halloween/Bday parties. We would get in costumes and walk the infamous Halloween Day parade and at midnight have a birthday party. That sounds like a "best birthday ever!!" birthday.
This year could be a really good birthday despite my lacksadaisical attitude about planning something. Yesterday when I came home from work, there was a package waiting for me. Joy!! I've already got a present!!! I wonder what it is. I wonder if I'll be able to wait four days to find out.
Posted by mermu at 09:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2005
Come Fly With Me! **but I might have been drunk
The podcasting thing is going really well. Letters to the President has already gotten some downloads. We're listed at indiepodder.org and well, there's nowhere to go but up. Stay tuned on Halloween for a Letters to the President podcast about fear. BOOOOOOO!!!!!!! To check it out go to Letters to the President podcast on Halloween or after. Until then, our first episode is already up so check it out if you haven't already!
One of my favorite podcasts to listen to is Fly With Me!. It's by a pilot who is going for "Captain" status. So far in his podcasts we've heard from Flight Attendants about rescue training, about qualifying and school requirements for achieving Captain's ranking. My favorite was a podcast that included the chatter between the pilot of the Jet Blue plane that crashlanded at LAX about a month ago. This episode was fascinating. I must say I've learned so much about commercial flying from a really unique perspective.
Recently, host Joe Dion asked his listeners to weigh in on the big "Flight Plan" flight attendant controversy. Flight attendants don't like the way the flight attendants behaved in the movie and feel that flight attendants' reputations everywhere are being besmirched because of it. You can hear my and other responses in the Episode titled "Upgrade Update 1" dated October 20, 2005.
I think I sound drunk.*
****I'm not, I promise.
Posted by mermu at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2005
American Plumbers / Plugging the Leak
Based on ratings for the last few weeks, I seem to be the only one watching The West Wing. This is a shame really as it's still some of the best writing on television. Whole, well rounded characters and real conflict in every episode. It's also interesting to watch the process a person goes through as he runs for president. With every episode we see the evolution of a President as hopeful President-to-be Matt Santos runs for office. We also see what should happen when a person leaks sensitive information to the press.
In this week's episode on Sunday, White House Communications Director Toby Ziegler admits to leaking information about a secret Nasa shuttle. He was trying to save the lives of astronauts stuck on a space station. Still, he betrayed the trust of the President and the government and behaved unethically, and possibly illegally. He was immediately fired and then he will have to face the legal ramifacations of his actions. It's hard to see him go in the last scene. He served admirably for 6 or more years. I think perhaps he did the right thing. But so did President Bartlett. Besides that, the fire-breathing Republicans on the show demand justice. (Fire-breathing Republicans are like that right?)
Interestingly enough, there is a "reality-TV" version of a White House dealing with a leak in our very own real life White House. Evidence mounts that Cheney-aide "Scooter" Libby heard about Valerie Plame's identity from Cheney and not from reporters as he originally testified to the grand jury. (He is going to be in so much trouble with the Republicans; We all know what happens to people who lie to a grand jury!) Karl Rove, a longtime Bush confidant and White-House insider has also been caught in this political storm that not only ruined Valerie Plame's career as a CIA operative but also put her life in danger.
So we have one guy in fiction who leaks info to save some lives despite the political and legal repercussions and a few guys in real life who leak info as payback to another guy who didn't agree with them that put his wife's life in jeopardy. Fiction guy gets fired and evicted from the building. He can't even pick up his car keys in his office. Real life guys still have their jobs and so far real-life White House refuses to even acknowledge the issue.
I am left to wonder; where are the real life fire-breathing Republicans?. The information leaked deals with national security and the safety of the institutions of the CIA. (The institition is only as safe as it's credibility and its operatives.)Why isn't Ken Star banging on the doors of the White House with righteous indignation to defend the sanctity of the Executive Branch? Are blow jobs the only things Republicans care about?
Posted by mermu at 03:04 PM | Comments (0)
Fight for Your Rights
For the past two years the FDA has been playing footsie with Conservative Christian groups which has led to a huge clog in the drainpipe that is the current Food and Drug Administration. It all has to do with Plan B which is an emergency contraceptive and it's move (or not) to non-prescription status.
They have been holding up this process for two years for no obvious or stated reason other than that the monkeys are now running the zoo. At one point there was a concern that young girls could purchase Plan B if it were on the shelves of your local drugstore which may conflict with local legislation of that young girl's body. Also, there was a concern over possible health implications of the drug on adolescents and the lack of sufficient data on the effects of the drug on adolescents. The request was then altered to include the stipulation that the product would be behind the pharmacy counter but not require a prescription for women 16 or older and would still require a prescription for women under 16.
The FDA still refused to grant approval and what's more refused to inform the petitioner as to why the drug wasn't approved. This is the important part. Under normal circumstances the FDA usually lets the petitioner know not only that the drug isn't approved but also lists the reasons why the drug is not approved as well as what steps the petitioner must take toward approval.
The FDA advisory committee has recommended Plan B for approval and yet the FDA consistently refuses to announce one way or another. At one point earlier this year, the FDA was granted funding by the Senate with a promise that the FDA would announce in August 2005 one way or the other whether Plan B would be approved. Note they weren't forced to approve it; they were forced to decide whether to approve it. August came and went and still the Administration kept quite.
Then Susan F. Wood, the top Food and Drug Administration official in charge of women's health issues resigned in protest. Finally, FDA chief Lester Crawford was forced to resign as well. Lester had an embattled tenure as FDA chief ever since being appointed by Bush to take the position. (Hmm. A Bush appointee failing miserably...that sounds familiar.)
This is getting ridiculous. I'm getting sick and tired of a small group of overzealous ignorant white men taking liberties with the interpretation of a 2000 year old book telling me what to do!!! To say nothing of the fact that these cronies so concerned about the health of young women are also the idiots who refuse to allow schools and teachers to educate them about their bodies.
What You Can Do
Sign a petition here at Hillary's website. She's been instrumental in insisting that the FDA start taking their jobs seriously.For back up information check out:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/12/AR2005101202607.html
Posted by mermu at 11:45 AM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2005
Dear George: Letters to the President PodCast
A few months ago, while looking for ways to produce a radio show of Dear George, I stumbled on to a then-new media format called Podcasting. After months of listening, investigating recording options and well, yes...procrastination, and one or two practice runs that are not really fit for airing. Dear George creator Marcus Woollen and I have finished L2P-001; our first Letters to the President podcast. Check out this page to hear the first one. We'll post the podcast to subscription services and put together some promos soon. Until then, take a listen to our first efforts and let me know what you think. And don't be afraid to write a letter at Dear George: Letters to the President. Someday, you might get to read it on our podcast.
Uncle John, you in particular should listen to this first episode. You almost got a call from me last night during the podcast.
Posted by mermu at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2005
5 Years
Today I celebrate 5 years living in (or around NYC). It's all passed by so fast. The last 5 years have proved to be a whirlwind of excitement and emotion, some personal and some so momentous that the whole world was affected. For better or worse, I'm so happy to be here. So NYC, here's to the next five years!
Posted by mermu at 05:18 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2005
Bad Day? We'll then let's Celebrate
International Moment of Frustration Scream Day. Go ahead...let it all hang out....
Posted by mermu at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)
October 05, 2005
Star-gazing
Just walked by actor Brad Garrett walking past me on 8th and 48th. I wonder where he was going. I hope it was loads more interesting than where I was going. Did another full day of voiceover work yesterday and now it's back to the usual grind.
I did make alot of strides in my MBOX knowledge last weekend, so stay tuned. I may have something for show and tell really soon.
Posted by mermu at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2005
Play Submissions
I'm looking for new and intriguing work for Tex in the City's "4:Your Consideration Series". So if you've got the goods, send them to me at offers(at)mermu(dot)net. If selected, I'll produce a staged reading, reception, or event featuring your submission. Selections can be plays, music, art, or whatever else your creating that's looking for an audience.
The 4:Your Consideration Series was created by former TITC partner Greg Gorman and I to highlight new and innovative works of art in an early stage of development, preview the work in an audience-interactive workshop format and discover possible direction toward reaching the next stage of development.
Author's Note, February 16, 2006: I have since settled a lawsuit against my former partners Scott and Kambri for my interest in the Tex in the City brand. I've effectively sold my interest and am no longer in any way affiliated with TITC. I had been frustrated with my former partners' lack of commitment to agreed upon events and programs (of which the 4:YCS was one) for some time now. While the disengenuous manner in which they approached this separation is both disappointing and sadly, not terribly unexpected, I am quite pleased with the way things have turned out. I can no longer vouch for the quality of the event or work that is currently produced by TITC.
I do, however, still produce staged readings and events personally. (I'm currently working on a staged reading of Texan Angela Gant's new work to be premiered in New York at the Bottle Factory Theatre in late March 2006 and helping to produce a 6 week run of "33 to nothing" at the Bottle Factory Theatre.) Please feel free to continue to send me scripts or ideas and check out this blog for the latest events and productions.
Posted by mermu at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)
Easy Pickings
George Bush just made his second pick for Supreme Court Justice. Member of White House Counsel, Harriet Miers, has been nominated by Bush as the best person to fill the job. At this early stage in the process, it's really hard to determine how effective Ms. Miers may or may not be as a Justice. The only thing really that we know is that she has never been a judge and is considered a longtime "confidant" of Pres. Bush.
So: little or no experience and a good friend of GWB. This is sounding strikingly familiar.
Reference Articles:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4304684.stm
Posted by mermu at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2005
Rich White Trash
So it's Saturday and I'm chilling out at home and watching a little television. There's a show on E!, you guessed it, a reality show (is there any other kind of show on E!?), about some born-into-money rich kids who for once have to do a little work to get something they want. There seems to be a slew of these reality shows, or info-tainment shows about rich kids these days. I call it the Paris Hilton-effect.
Many of the kids in the show about which I'm speaking are spoiled, self-indulgent and way less mature than they might otherwise be if they'd had more guidance (and perhaps less money)growing up. Some of them aren't too bad and like all of us, they have their "moments" of spoiledness. Most of the kids aren't even kids at all. They're in their mid to late 20s. There is one, however, who takes the cake.
This man is in his late twenties, married to an heiress & rumored to be gay. He's also notorious for being an asshole when drinking and apparently chose recently to leave the country rather then face the PR repercussions after yet another episode of embarrasing behavior this time involving some bouncers at an A-list club in the Hamptons. Put it this way; while I can't attest to the man's command of the entire English language, the bouncers at Star room can assure that said Spoiled Boy/Man does indeed have command of the most base racial epithets, particularly against African Americans. If only he'd had my mother for a mother. She was younger than he is now, with nary enough money to raise her growing family and she still managed to teach me, her five year old daughter, the baseness of the racial slur that he doles out like candy when he's pissed (both the English and American use of the word..."pissed".)
How sad it must be for his family. All that money and it still couldn't help them raise a good man. It's ironic really; while the Boy/Man has no real money himself (in fact there's also talk on the web that creditors must first sue his father before they get the bills paid), he still is considered an heir and he does have access to more money in a year than I may ever see in my entire life. All that money, all that "net worth" and still the man is completely worthless.
I wonder, what will it take for a guy like that to grow up?
Speaking of litigiousness, said Boy/Man has a penchant for threatening the "s" word. (Sue.) Fabian, should I start a Paypal account for my defense fund now?
Posted by mermu at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)