Hey everybody. I know I have not been keeping up with BURNcast. It's because I'm walking the picket line daily for the writers who are on strike in the entertainment industry. My union, SAG, has asked to show solidarity for the writers because their fight is our fight. And it is.
I've been meaning to get back to BURNcast at the beginning of February. But walking the line everyday is wearing on me physically and emotionally. It took me several weeks to finally kick a bug I got in December. And I had to tighten my belt because I have not worked in months because of the strike.
At any rate, WHATEVER YOU ARE HEARING IN THE NEWS about the strike PLEASE KNOW that there is a MEDIA BLACKOUT in effect. Management and Labor have agreed to this in order to keep these delicate negotiations from being decided in the press and in the court of public opinion rather than privately where it needs to be. So, since the writers are striking against Big Media, I have a hunch that Big Media is leaking false or compromised information.
It's worth noting that Big Media has retained Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane as their PR firm. The two were dubbed the "Masters of Disaster" for their damage control P.R. work when they worked for the Clinton White House and campaigns so it's interesting that they are now taking on Big Media clients.
Yesterday there was a huge picketing rally in front of Disney Studios. Since I don't own a TV, I'm curious if it was covered in the news? Especially, ABC? Just curious.
Anyway later that day, on CNBC, Michael Eisner, the former CEO of the Walt Disney Co., announced that the strike is over.
WTF?
Hello, Operator? Is Michael at the bargaining table? Is he in the negotiating room? Fuck no. All CNBC is doing is allowing Eisner to say the "I heard it from a friend" and we know that game. We played it in elementary school.
For the record: Michael Eisner is completely uninvolved and irrelevant to the strike.
I believe it's plain bad journalism for CNBC news to report that Michael Eisner said the strike is over. This is reprehensible and irresponsible reporting if you can even call it that. It's crap. There's no fact checking. It's all hearsay.
In a conversation with Chai Guy, he said, "It's a classic set up. If Big Media announce that the strike is over (the Eisner stint), then the whole thing rests on the shoulders of the writers, if the writers reject the deal in a vote, then the writers end up looking like the assholes for denying the fanbase new episodes of "HEROES", and for canceling the Academy Awards."
Chai's so right on! True that, CG!
So don't believe anything you hear in the media right now. There is a a media blackout. It ain't over 'til it's over. I want to get back to work too, but I didn't march around in circles for months to get a bad deal.
This weekend the WGA Negotiating Committee is presenting a proposed contract to the rank and file. We'll know what the results are after that. If you want the facts, just go to the source. Go to official Writers Guild of America website at http://www.wga.org
I'll be back at BURNcast as soon as this is over. Until then, please support your fellow artists and writers who are fighting to get a fair deal. To be able to buy a house, get an education and have two weeks vacation with health insurance thrown in the mix, well...that's the American dream, ain't it?
08 February 2008
08 January 2008
Vote 4 The "New" Man
The LAist recently posted this blog post revealing the details of next year's man effigy:"This year's Burning Man will be the tallest ever, and will stand on top of a four-story obelisk. The monument will be draped with flags of countries from all over the world. Inside the obelisk, a double-helix like strand will create a spiral staircase that will resemble DNA. The "Man" will be burned on Burn Night on Saturday, August 30th."
What do you think? Cast your vote!
05 January 2008
Want to go to Flipside?
Hey everyone, Lance Hunter of Flipp'd OUT here.
Just wanted to put out this information for the BURNcast audience that might be interested in attending Flipside this year. Our ticket procedure is kind of a pain-in-the-ass, but we try our best and 95% of the time the people who want tickets are able to get them. Here's the official post from our ticket lead this year...
Tickets for Flipside 2008: Dr. Tiki’s Combustible Medicine Show go on sale starting Jan 7 thru Jan 11, 2008 .
All tickets for Flipside 2008 will be sold via Mail Order (snake oil not included).
The Official Flipside Ticket Order Form is available to fill out now.
Follow these steps to get your tickets secured:
First, you must access the form itself, fill out your information, and submit electronically so we have all of your details.
The ticket form can be found here: http://www.burningflipside.com/common/tickets/request.php
Next, print the form and obtain your Money Order with correct payment value to match your form. Fold your form and your money order and put your nicely folded bundle in a pretty envelope, buy a stamp or get your nice Post Man to put a stamp on your envelope (he may as well post mark it too) and mail it to us, with a post mark between Monday Jan 7 and Friday Jan 11 (7-11, get it? That’s easy to remember!). Simple, easy and fun!
NOTE: THE FIRST DAY YOU CAN SEND YOUR TICKET REQUEST IN THE MAIL IS THIS COMING MONDAY, JANUARY 7.
***If you do not follow through and mail your pretty envelope, you will not be guaranteed a ticket to the most glorious medicine show to ever be born, the electronic submission is not enough, you must also send us the physical form WITH your correct payment with money order included. ***
Two adult tickets per order. One order per person.
Tickets will cost $70 each for adult tickets age 13 and up and $35 for kids 7-12 (Kids 0-6 are free). Payment is accepted by Money Order only! If you send any other form of payment, your request will be sent back unfilled. Make sure you save your money order receipts, if your order is not filled you may need that to turn your money order back into real dollars.
Make your Money orders payable to:
Austin Artistic Reconstruction
Send your money order and completed ticket order form to:
Austin Artistic Reconstruction
PO Box 9987
Austin , TX 78766
Please make sure you print your name and return address legibly on your envelope!
Will Call: NO NAME CHANGES will be allowed for Will Call tickets. Don't do Will Call unless you are sure you personally will be able to pick up the tickets when you arrive at the gate. ID will be required.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Starr at: tickets@burningflipside.com,
(I'm cutting out most of the fine print here. Basically it says there will be 2345 tickets sold and that they reserve the right to fill the ticket orders for those volunteers that are making sure the event happens first. I understand that this is already an obscenely long post so I'll leave it at that. Hope to see you at Flipside this year!)
Tickets for Flipside 2008: Dr. Tiki’s Combustible Medicine Show go on sale starting Jan 7 thru Jan 11, 2008 .
All tickets for Flipside 2008 will be sold via Mail Order (snake oil not included).
The Official Flipside Ticket Order Form is available to fill out now.
Follow these steps to get your tickets secured:
First, you must access the form itself, fill out your information, and submit electronically so we have all of your details.
The ticket form can be found here: http://www.burningflipside.com/common/tickets/request.php
Next, print the form and obtain your Money Order with correct payment value to match your form. Fold your form and your money order and put your nicely folded bundle in a pretty envelope, buy a stamp or get your nice Post Man to put a stamp on your envelope (he may as well post mark it too) and mail it to us, with a post mark between Monday Jan 7 and Friday Jan 11 (7-11, get it? That’s easy to remember!). Simple, easy and fun!
NOTE: THE FIRST DAY YOU CAN SEND YOUR TICKET REQUEST IN THE MAIL IS THIS COMING MONDAY, JANUARY 7.
***If you do not follow through and mail your pretty envelope, you will not be guaranteed a ticket to the most glorious medicine show to ever be born, the electronic submission is not enough, you must also send us the physical form WITH your correct payment with money order included. ***
Two adult tickets per order. One order per person.
Tickets will cost $70 each for adult tickets age 13 and up and $35 for kids 7-12 (Kids 0-6 are free). Payment is accepted by Money Order only! If you send any other form of payment, your request will be sent back unfilled. Make sure you save your money order receipts, if your order is not filled you may need that to turn your money order back into real dollars.
Make your Money orders payable to:
Austin Artistic Reconstruction
Send your money order and completed ticket order form to:
Austin Artistic Reconstruction
PO Box 9987
Austin , TX 78766
Please make sure you print your name and return address legibly on your envelope!
Will Call: NO NAME CHANGES will be allowed for Will Call tickets. Don't do Will Call unless you are sure you personally will be able to pick up the tickets when you arrive at the gate. ID will be required.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Starr at: tickets@burningflipside.com,
(I'm cutting out most of the fine print here. Basically it says there will be 2345 tickets sold and that they reserve the right to fill the ticket orders for those volunteers that are making sure the event happens first. I understand that this is already an obscenely long post so I'll leave it at that. Hope to see you at Flipside this year!)
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