Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Today's Video Link

I disagree with those who say that by her response to the recent Tucson shooting, Sarah Palin has destroyed any chance she had at being president. I don't think she had a chance before that. What's more, I think she's known that all along and has merely decided there is much money to be made (and perhaps some peripheral political influence to be wielded) by continuing to put on a show for the 30% or so of the population that loves to hear her bash Obama and Liberals and Democrats. If she really thought she had a shot at the Oval Office, she'd be making some effort to woo Independents or even moderate Republicans. Instead, it's all red meat for the reddest states and the Tea Party crowd. You can't get elected with a 53% unfavorable rating or by avoiding actual debates and interviews.

Here's Jon Stewart pointing out how this woman plays the Victim Card the way Bret Maverick used to play the Ace of Spades. Bret always had a couple up his sleeve...

• Posted at 10:48 AM · LINK

Go See It!

This is one of those "Don't click if you don't have some time to spare" links. This morning, about eleven people all sent me to this Flickr page where someone has diligently matched up photos of old Los Angeles with corresponding images of the same locations today. I think the "today" pics come from something like Google Maps. Whatever, it's a stunning "then and now" look at parts of my city, including some I know very well...one that just cost me at least a half-hour.

• Posted at 10:29 AM · LINK

Go Read It!

Our pal Robert J. Elisberg files his final report on this years' Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. A lot in there about 3-D TVs and I agree with Bob's skepticism about them catching on as big as some are predicting.

• Posted at 2:55 AM · LINK

Hollywood Labor News

The Directors Guild has signed a new three-year contract. It's essentially a status quo deal which provides for modest cost-of-living increases and a few minor trade-offs. Only days ago, the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA also signed a new three-year contract with modest cost-of-living increases and a few minor trade-offs.

Back when the Writers Guild settled its last strike and signed its current contract, there was some speculation that a "perfect storm" was coming into alignment; that the WGA, the DGA and the combo of SAG and AFTRA might all link arms to some extent since their contracts were all coming up for renewal at the same time. This did not happen, largely because SAG and AFTRA had such trouble linking arms at all. If you recall, after the WGA and DGA made their last deals, SAG and AFTRA splintered and the latter egregiously undercut the former. It's an achievement that they just managed to negotiate together this time.

This time around, the Producers might have elected to negotiate first with the WGA. Our contract expires May 1, whereas the DGA and SAG-AFTRA contracts didn't expire until June 30. Instead, in what was probably a wise strategy, the Producers opted to dicker last with the Writers Guild. Presumably, those talks will commence soon.

The WGA recently solicited input from its members on an ambitious Pattern of Demands which lists many areas in which we'd like to have the contract improved. I'll be very surprised if any of those demands are even discussed. We're going to wind up with modest cost-of-living increases and a few minor trade-offs. And a lot of very angry members.

• Posted at 12:22 AM · LINK