With the slew of misstatements made by the presidential candidate Mitt Romney, he has announced in a statement released by his campaign, that he suffers from verbal diarrhea.
This comes admist the recent scrutiny of some of Mr. Romney's statements. In a speech last spring, Mr. Romney boasted that he had been a hunter "pretty much all my life", but later recanted that statement, by revealing that he had been hunting only twice. He also boasted the N.R.A.'s endorsement, which the N.R.A. never did.
This is kind of scrutiny, especially now that the presidential race is heating up, is becoming more and more common. Political analyst Cort Burton says that presidential candidates, now more than ever, have to be careful of what they say. "Anything you say can be construed and twisted into anything. Many think that Tancredo pulled out of the race, because of the quip he made about global warming being a product of computer fan exhaust." Mr. Burton stated. "Things like that are hard to spin into something good. If Romney doesn't take care of this it could crush his campaign and eventually ruin his life."
Mr. Romney at a press conference early Wednesday morning addressed many of the concerns with his statements. "I acknowledge I have a problem that in any other field wouldn't be a problem, but I understand the responsibilities of a presidential candidate."
When asked about a push from his campaign to go to rehab to help with his problem, he said "I assure you I have the problem under control now. I was even telling my wife, who use to be a model for Esquire, that I was getting it under control."
Romney's wife later corrected her husband, by saying that she was in fact never a model for Esquire.
Romney then said that, "Sometimes I can't help myself. It's something impulsive I do. Whether I do it because of how excited I am about becoming president or because I'm Mormon. Maybe it's a Mormon thing you know? But I'm not saying I'm different...because I'm not. I just a regular guy. I mean as regular goes, you know regular is such a subjective term. I mean if a regular guy was falling asleep at the wheel, then I'm regular. But not if that's not regular, because I'm a regular guy, that's how people should see me. But I'm not going to force you to see that. I mean that I trust your opinion. I mean as trust goes, I'm pretty trustful. I mean I even won the trust award last year at the trust convention." This was met by many sighs from the campaign managers scattering to do damage control.
Jim Sigfield, one of Romney's campaign managers was very distressed at all the attention to Romney. "Frankly all the attention for Romney's statements are great for publicity and for him, but it's hell for me. I remember when he made the N.R.A. statement I was up all night combating reporters. I just don't like all the media buzz. I liked the days when people were to afraid to talk about Romney and I spent my days fighting rumors that he wore special underwear."
Romney continued to battle reporters all morning on the issue of his false statements, but he ended the conference by saying, "No matter what I say, I swear I'm going to be a good president. And really, at the end of the day, that's important. Not that you can't trust my words, but trust that I say that I'm right."
It's to early to tell if his statements will help or harm his campaign. All anyone knows is that, those who suffer from verbal diarrhea have a lower chance at becoming president. Just imagine if our current president said things that weren't true to the public. Could we live with ourselves as a society? The public seems to be giving Romney the benefit of the doubt in some national poles. So I guess we can.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
National Weather Service. Public Service or Public Nuisance?
After such an ambiguous title as the aforementioned, I will try to give you an idea of the National Weather Service and what it means to me. The National Weather Service (NWS), contrary to popular belief, was instituted in 1870, by President Ulysses S. Grant because he felt that weather shouldn't only be acknowledge by people that lived in "Tornado Alley". Over time, the NWS has expanded their duties to locating and tracking the digestive tracts of various hurricanes and drafty weather. The majority of the population are reluctant to recognize the NWS, not as an actual organization that tend to the feelings of weather, but more as a nuisance.
A nuisance? Yes a nuisance. A few weeks ago, in my dorm, I was idly concentrating on the television, eagerly watching an interview of Rupert Murdoch on how poor people are contributing to the poverty of this nation, when I heard a shrill sound. It was a piercing beep, that I took as extraterrestrial life communicating their dominance over me, when I realized it was coming from my television. It was the NWS and they had issued a test that conveniently scrolled at the top of my screen. On the screen Rupert Murdoch was now doing a ceremonial dance, that involved rubbing his armpits, spitting on his kneecaps and yelling something. I turned up the volume, only to figure out that the NWS had muted my television. I became extremely worried. I had heard about the Russians developing technology like this, but I had no idea that it was right in my bathroom (oddly the only place I have a cable output). I was amazed by the sheer magnitude of the NWS reach. I changed the channel to PBS, the only channel proven to withstand a nuclear blast, and it was sharing similar symptoms.
Baffled, I pulled out my hammer, chisel and concrete block (my normal writing utensils were at the shop) and I began to chisel away a sternly written letter to the NWS, when the test was suddenly completed. Relieved that I hadn't missed Rupert's thoughts on financial dictatorship and reinforcing a biased media, I heeded writing my letter for another day.
Surprisingly that day came a couple moons later. I was doing yoga to the Estoban guitar infomercials, when I became stuck in a position. (The position can not be revealed for the safety of the public.) Struggling to remove my foot from under my eyelashes, I was blasted by the same shrilling beep, that had accosted my television before. Wondering if this was yet another test, I untangled myself from myself and pulled out my writing implements. I began to write vehemently, as observed below:
Dear National Weather Service,
It has come to my attention that your increasingly hostile ways of testing your weather service has become an inconvenience and a nuisance to me. I understand the importance of warning people of life threatening disasters, but it is it necessary for making it so bold and unmistakable? I would suggest something like a light tapping sound or a gentle cough to replace that piercing beep. I don't think--
I had reached that line, when a large wooden thing (which I later found it out to be a large wooden thing) kindly entered my room through the window causing a confusion. After a quick change of pants and underwear, a loud knock was heard at my door. It was my RA, who was informing the residents that a tornado was seen and that it was waiting for permission to enter town. The RA was urging everyone to relocate to the basement. After hearing this I began to gather the few essentials that I could not part with, which were; my free coffee mug (compliments of my service in Grenada), my bootleg record of John Denver's Poems Prayers & Promises signed by the legendary Randy Newman, and of course my lint roller. I raced down the stairs along with my fellow residents to the bottom floor, where I sat, clutching my possessions.
After some time had passed the kind fellows at NWS were informing everyone that the tornado wasn't entering town, but was taunting us in anticipation. I became delirious with boredom, so I began to recite the screenplay of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo (which often do, to pass the time). I had reached the second act when we were told everything was safe and that we could go back to our rooms.
With a new perspective, I pondered about NWS and whether I was overly stressing about there contributions. I believe, for the most part, they're trying to do good for the people, but I could do without all the pretension. Maybe instead of alerting the whole western hemisphere when there's a light drizzle, maybe it could be localized to the areas that are affected. Although I don't expect the NWS to consider any of the changes I would like implemented, that fact hasn't dampened my spirits. So I will continue to heed the NWS warnings, but only if they're preventing me from watching re-runs of the "Gilmore Girls".
A nuisance? Yes a nuisance. A few weeks ago, in my dorm, I was idly concentrating on the television, eagerly watching an interview of Rupert Murdoch on how poor people are contributing to the poverty of this nation, when I heard a shrill sound. It was a piercing beep, that I took as extraterrestrial life communicating their dominance over me, when I realized it was coming from my television. It was the NWS and they had issued a test that conveniently scrolled at the top of my screen. On the screen Rupert Murdoch was now doing a ceremonial dance, that involved rubbing his armpits, spitting on his kneecaps and yelling something. I turned up the volume, only to figure out that the NWS had muted my television. I became extremely worried. I had heard about the Russians developing technology like this, but I had no idea that it was right in my bathroom (oddly the only place I have a cable output). I was amazed by the sheer magnitude of the NWS reach. I changed the channel to PBS, the only channel proven to withstand a nuclear blast, and it was sharing similar symptoms.
Baffled, I pulled out my hammer, chisel and concrete block (my normal writing utensils were at the shop) and I began to chisel away a sternly written letter to the NWS, when the test was suddenly completed. Relieved that I hadn't missed Rupert's thoughts on financial dictatorship and reinforcing a biased media, I heeded writing my letter for another day.
Surprisingly that day came a couple moons later. I was doing yoga to the Estoban guitar infomercials, when I became stuck in a position. (The position can not be revealed for the safety of the public.) Struggling to remove my foot from under my eyelashes, I was blasted by the same shrilling beep, that had accosted my television before. Wondering if this was yet another test, I untangled myself from myself and pulled out my writing implements. I began to write vehemently, as observed below:
Dear National Weather Service,
It has come to my attention that your increasingly hostile ways of testing your weather service has become an inconvenience and a nuisance to me. I understand the importance of warning people of life threatening disasters, but it is it necessary for making it so bold and unmistakable? I would suggest something like a light tapping sound or a gentle cough to replace that piercing beep. I don't think--
I had reached that line, when a large wooden thing (which I later found it out to be a large wooden thing) kindly entered my room through the window causing a confusion. After a quick change of pants and underwear, a loud knock was heard at my door. It was my RA, who was informing the residents that a tornado was seen and that it was waiting for permission to enter town. The RA was urging everyone to relocate to the basement. After hearing this I began to gather the few essentials that I could not part with, which were; my free coffee mug (compliments of my service in Grenada), my bootleg record of John Denver's Poems Prayers & Promises signed by the legendary Randy Newman, and of course my lint roller. I raced down the stairs along with my fellow residents to the bottom floor, where I sat, clutching my possessions.
After some time had passed the kind fellows at NWS were informing everyone that the tornado wasn't entering town, but was taunting us in anticipation. I became delirious with boredom, so I began to recite the screenplay of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo (which often do, to pass the time). I had reached the second act when we were told everything was safe and that we could go back to our rooms.
With a new perspective, I pondered about NWS and whether I was overly stressing about there contributions. I believe, for the most part, they're trying to do good for the people, but I could do without all the pretension. Maybe instead of alerting the whole western hemisphere when there's a light drizzle, maybe it could be localized to the areas that are affected. Although I don't expect the NWS to consider any of the changes I would like implemented, that fact hasn't dampened my spirits. So I will continue to heed the NWS warnings, but only if they're preventing me from watching re-runs of the "Gilmore Girls".
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Writers Guild of America takes strike into week two
(Article I did about the strike for the Dakota Student.)
It's the second week of the writers strike. Booooo. Hiss. For those of you who are reading about the strike for the first time (the newspaper has other things besides comic strips), the WGA has been on strike as of last week Monday, when studio heads refused to agree on negotiations to compensate writers for there work. The two main issues of the strike is, for writers to have residuals on DVD sales increase from 4 cents of every $19.99, to 8 cents. The second is the big one. The writers are looking to be compensated for the content being shown on new media (i.e. internet), in which they are receiving none at the moment.
Now that you are caught up, here is the update. The negotiations are still deadlocked as the studio execs are holding firm on their position. One of the major events happening from the rush of shows being shut down is layoffs. NBC has laid off 102 employees that work on the show "The Office". Many of those employees are not writers, but your average personal on a show (i.e. grips, lighting, etc.). Even with looming layoffs, many of these personnel are in support of the WGA's cause. These are one of the things networks are doing, in order to hurt the WGA's support. Layoffs such as these bring a lot of suspicion to the networks. Some argue that networks have been waiting for the strike, because it would give them an opportunity to layoff staff and cut personnel.
The networks clearly aren't going to play fair here. They've shown that they have no sympathy for the writers, which intern has spawned a barrage of attacks from the writers, in video form, that are being posted on the internet. "The Office" showrunner Greg Daniels, in "The Office" video said, "I encourage the company to send the lawyers in to write our episodes, because the lawyers are very creative...terming a full length airing of an episode, with paid for commercials online, a promo, it's really a good example of creativity and imagination."
In a video that "The Daily Show" writers posted in support of the strike, they point out their parent company (Viacom) and their lawsuit they have brought against Youtube, in which Viacom will sue Youtube for a billion dollars for putting their content on Youtube (which is free). The writers also point out the obvious gap in logic in the argument, when relating it to the writer's strike. "It's quite simple. When you're not paying him (Summer Redstone - CEO of Viacom), you owe him a billion dollars. When he's not paying you (i.e. the writers)...he's not paying you.", Jason Ross explains in a similar sarcastic Jon Stewart style.
The Simpson's writers, in their video, point out the similarity of Mr. Burns and Rupert Murdoch (CEO of NewsCorp which owns FOX). In which I completely see. "The Simpson's writers payed for Throne of Bones, the Mountain of Skulls that he sits on and the Lake of Blood that he bathes in." said the writers. Daniel Chun added, "In case anyone doesn't really know who's side their on. Here's a hint, the giant media empires are not the good guys. The multi-national media conglomerates are not the good guys."
It's very simple to take this as just something happening over there on the coasts, but this is something that must be called into attention. Many reasons why the coverage of the strike has been, for a lack of better words, flaccid, is quite obvious. Many of the news outlets are owned by the same companies of the studio's. It's as simple as Rupert Murdoch, telling FOX News not to report bad things about a president, because he likes him. The media won't cover something that is hurting the company that gives them money, even if it means looking the other way (which they have never done before) when faced with the strike. It's high time for the fans, and the people who will truly be affected by this strike (yes YOU), to stand up to these greedy networks and call foul. It's hard to bring people in support of the cause, because many of the shows are still running new episodes, but in due time, those episodes will run out. Then what will you watch? Survivor? American Idol? COPS re-runs? Not this guy.
To learn more and follow current developments visit http://unitedhollywood.com/.
Link to article.
It's the second week of the writers strike. Booooo. Hiss. For those of you who are reading about the strike for the first time (the newspaper has other things besides comic strips), the WGA has been on strike as of last week Monday, when studio heads refused to agree on negotiations to compensate writers for there work. The two main issues of the strike is, for writers to have residuals on DVD sales increase from 4 cents of every $19.99, to 8 cents. The second is the big one. The writers are looking to be compensated for the content being shown on new media (i.e. internet), in which they are receiving none at the moment.
Now that you are caught up, here is the update. The negotiations are still deadlocked as the studio execs are holding firm on their position. One of the major events happening from the rush of shows being shut down is layoffs. NBC has laid off 102 employees that work on the show "The Office". Many of those employees are not writers, but your average personal on a show (i.e. grips, lighting, etc.). Even with looming layoffs, many of these personnel are in support of the WGA's cause. These are one of the things networks are doing, in order to hurt the WGA's support. Layoffs such as these bring a lot of suspicion to the networks. Some argue that networks have been waiting for the strike, because it would give them an opportunity to layoff staff and cut personnel.
The networks clearly aren't going to play fair here. They've shown that they have no sympathy for the writers, which intern has spawned a barrage of attacks from the writers, in video form, that are being posted on the internet. "The Office" showrunner Greg Daniels, in "The Office" video said, "I encourage the company to send the lawyers in to write our episodes, because the lawyers are very creative...terming a full length airing of an episode, with paid for commercials online, a promo, it's really a good example of creativity and imagination."
In a video that "The Daily Show" writers posted in support of the strike, they point out their parent company (Viacom) and their lawsuit they have brought against Youtube, in which Viacom will sue Youtube for a billion dollars for putting their content on Youtube (which is free). The writers also point out the obvious gap in logic in the argument, when relating it to the writer's strike. "It's quite simple. When you're not paying him (Summer Redstone - CEO of Viacom), you owe him a billion dollars. When he's not paying you (i.e. the writers)...he's not paying you.", Jason Ross explains in a similar sarcastic Jon Stewart style.
The Simpson's writers, in their video, point out the similarity of Mr. Burns and Rupert Murdoch (CEO of NewsCorp which owns FOX). In which I completely see. "The Simpson's writers payed for Throne of Bones, the Mountain of Skulls that he sits on and the Lake of Blood that he bathes in." said the writers. Daniel Chun added, "In case anyone doesn't really know who's side their on. Here's a hint, the giant media empires are not the good guys. The multi-national media conglomerates are not the good guys."
It's very simple to take this as just something happening over there on the coasts, but this is something that must be called into attention. Many reasons why the coverage of the strike has been, for a lack of better words, flaccid, is quite obvious. Many of the news outlets are owned by the same companies of the studio's. It's as simple as Rupert Murdoch, telling FOX News not to report bad things about a president, because he likes him. The media won't cover something that is hurting the company that gives them money, even if it means looking the other way (which they have never done before) when faced with the strike. It's high time for the fans, and the people who will truly be affected by this strike (yes YOU), to stand up to these greedy networks and call foul. It's hard to bring people in support of the cause, because many of the shows are still running new episodes, but in due time, those episodes will run out. Then what will you watch? Survivor? American Idol? COPS re-runs? Not this guy.
To learn more and follow current developments visit http://unitedhollywood.com/.
Link to article.
January 20, 2001 (Diary of Tim Scheft)
Read the introduction to the diary here.
January 20, 2001
Dear book of thoughts,
As days go, this was a fairly good day. Unlike most people I celebrated Martin Luther King day today. Others like to take the day for-granted, by sleeping in and tipping black waiters extra. No I got up early this morning and boarded the C train. Or the F train. I've lived in NYC since Carter was president and I still don't know the subway configurations. I'm such a dunce.
I boarded the train and went north to Harlem. The place of choice where white people decide to go, when they wish to never be seen again. As I left the subway station, I marveled at how efficient muggings had become. They have now streamlined it to the point where there is no interaction. There is just a sign with a basket below it that reads "Please place all wallets, purses and all valuables in the basket below. Thank you for your cooperation. -Management".
I left the subway station and then embarked on my day of honoring MLK. After acquiring a cardboard piece and a two by four, I began to march down 120th St. next to Marcus Garvey Memorial Park. I began to get into the spirt of the march and began to chant "Down with white america.", which I later recanted when I saw Bill Clinton jogging by. Deciding to keep it funky, I walked to the opposite side of the park and found a procession of marchers, led by none other, Al Sharpton. I of course smiled at his hair (as I always do) and decided to join the procession. I was immediately thrown a few glances of curiosity. One man even approached me and asked to see my NAACP card, which is a requirement for an Al Sharpton march. I had my card revoked in the early 90's, which was a part of the NAACP's effort to retaliate against the Rodney King trials.
I became increasingly paranoid after awhile, partly because I was being followed by a few large black men in bow ties and black rimmed glasses. I wasn't sure if they were Republicans or if they were part of a made for TV movie about Elijah Mohammed.
It was quite the spectacle. I listened to speeches from Mr. Sharpton, Eugene Levy, Chaka Kahn, and the highlight, Donald Trump. Trump gave a heartfelt speech that would even rival MLK's march on Washington speech. I only say that, because...well he said it did. I also got to learn a dance which I think the kids call the Harlem Shuffle. You can never underestimate the learning of a new dance and it's affect on the community.
Eventually it started to get late in the day and I hadn't walked my dog yet, so I decided to make a break for it. It's almost impossible to leave a march in progress. Understandably not everyone can follow a march until the end, but for those who leave it, they are often ostracized or manhandled like the late Johnny Schakelman. He left a march for breast cancer (supposedly to go watch TV) and a group of angry women accosted him the next day and gave him breast cancer, which oddly I found out, isn't a contagious disease.
I learned a lot that day. Mainly that if a man puts his hand in his pocket and motions you to get in his van, be sure to get his license plates and his dental records (if available). And if you have a dream, make sure it's when you're sleeping because people might use it out of context.
January 20, 2001
Dear book of thoughts,
As days go, this was a fairly good day. Unlike most people I celebrated Martin Luther King day today. Others like to take the day for-granted, by sleeping in and tipping black waiters extra. No I got up early this morning and boarded the C train. Or the F train. I've lived in NYC since Carter was president and I still don't know the subway configurations. I'm such a dunce.
I boarded the train and went north to Harlem. The place of choice where white people decide to go, when they wish to never be seen again. As I left the subway station, I marveled at how efficient muggings had become. They have now streamlined it to the point where there is no interaction. There is just a sign with a basket below it that reads "Please place all wallets, purses and all valuables in the basket below. Thank you for your cooperation. -Management".
I left the subway station and then embarked on my day of honoring MLK. After acquiring a cardboard piece and a two by four, I began to march down 120th St. next to Marcus Garvey Memorial Park. I began to get into the spirt of the march and began to chant "Down with white america.", which I later recanted when I saw Bill Clinton jogging by. Deciding to keep it funky, I walked to the opposite side of the park and found a procession of marchers, led by none other, Al Sharpton. I of course smiled at his hair (as I always do) and decided to join the procession. I was immediately thrown a few glances of curiosity. One man even approached me and asked to see my NAACP card, which is a requirement for an Al Sharpton march. I had my card revoked in the early 90's, which was a part of the NAACP's effort to retaliate against the Rodney King trials.
I became increasingly paranoid after awhile, partly because I was being followed by a few large black men in bow ties and black rimmed glasses. I wasn't sure if they were Republicans or if they were part of a made for TV movie about Elijah Mohammed.
It was quite the spectacle. I listened to speeches from Mr. Sharpton, Eugene Levy, Chaka Kahn, and the highlight, Donald Trump. Trump gave a heartfelt speech that would even rival MLK's march on Washington speech. I only say that, because...well he said it did. I also got to learn a dance which I think the kids call the Harlem Shuffle. You can never underestimate the learning of a new dance and it's affect on the community.
Eventually it started to get late in the day and I hadn't walked my dog yet, so I decided to make a break for it. It's almost impossible to leave a march in progress. Understandably not everyone can follow a march until the end, but for those who leave it, they are often ostracized or manhandled like the late Johnny Schakelman. He left a march for breast cancer (supposedly to go watch TV) and a group of angry women accosted him the next day and gave him breast cancer, which oddly I found out, isn't a contagious disease.
I learned a lot that day. Mainly that if a man puts his hand in his pocket and motions you to get in his van, be sure to get his license plates and his dental records (if available). And if you have a dream, make sure it's when you're sleeping because people might use it out of context.
Writing Almati
This is a mainly improvised (except for the premise) short film I did for one of my classes.
Writing Aluminati from zeM on Vimeo.
Writing Aluminati from zeM on Vimeo.
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