News & General Info

Friday, July 11, 2008

SAG negotiators meet behind closed doors

The actors’ union national negotiating committee met in closed session today, according to the latest press release from SAG. The release says throughout the day the committee discussed “bargaining strategies.” Also in the release, SAG National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, Doug Allen, tried to clear the air on the Guild’s reaction to the studios’ deal. “Our national negotiating committee […]
Friday, July 11, 2008

A petition drive underway against FOX

Nearly 100, 000 people reportedly have expressed outrage at FOX for using racism, prejudice, and fear to smear presumed Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, that’s according to the Moveon.org political action website. The site lists the charges against FOX … “First, a paid FOX commentator accidentally confused “Obama” with “Osama” and then joked on the air about killing Obama. Next, a […]
Thursday, July 10, 2008

Some MySpace users can’t connect

There is a glitch on the popular social network MySpace today. I was talking with a counter clerk in the Central Burbank Library this afternoon and overheard a young man complain to another clerk that the computer he was using, “was broken.” The clerk calmly asked what website he was on. “MySpace,” the man replied. He was then told the […]
Thursday, July 10, 2008

SAG says no deal to the studio bosses

Today, the Screen Actors Guild handed the AMPTP a response to its final offer. While the producers were looking for a “yes” to everything, SAG tossed out some counter proposals instead. The AMPTP got really ticked about that. Apparently,  the AMPTP had expected SAG to rubber-stamp the deal like, ah, that other actors’ union. On its website, the AMPTP slammed […]
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Actors’ negotiations update

  One union contract is a done deal, but the second, and probably the most difficult, is still a cliffhanger. First — AFTRA. The waiting is over. Tonight, AFTRA announced the results of the balloting on the tentative primetime television offer from the producers. AFTRA negotiators reached the tentative agreement with the AMPTP on May 28. Last month, ballots were […]
Monday, July 7, 2008

Gaming for learning project

Google Image The Verizon Foundation has awarded a one million dollar grant to the American Library Association to study video games. The Chicago-based organization will create a model for library gaming that can be used nationally. The ALA plans to work with 12 gaming experts in its research. The findings will be used to build “The Librarians’ Guide to Gaming,” […]
Saturday, July 5, 2008

A grand-slamming day at Wimbledon

A grand-slamming day at Wimbledon for home girls Serena & Venus Google photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth Serena and Venus plot strategy during the women’s doubles competition at Wimbledon. Born in South Los Angeles, the two youngest Williams sisters were introduced to tennis at an early age by their father. At one point, the young girls would regularly practice on a […]
Saturday, July 5, 2008

July 4th holiday weekend movie fans head to the theaters

Moviegoers line up to buy tickets in Burbank. The theaters are packed this July 4th holiday weekend and many folks are buying tickets to see Will Smith as an irreverent superhero in “Hancock.” The film has received mostly negative reviews, but Smith still owns the July 4th weekend. In its first three days , “Hancock” has raked in $60.1 million […]
Friday, July 4, 2008

A day to celebrate freedom of choice

American flags are flying all over the country including here in Glendale today. On America’s Independence Day, I celebrate freedom of choice. I went for a walk through the Burbank hillside area. I passed a home being demolished by a construction team. A number of gardening crews were out mowing lawns and blowing leaves around. The car wash at Glen […]