Saturday, November 26, 2005
 The holiday shopping season is officially under way but there's an enormous "pink elephant" in the room (let's call her "CB" short for "crude behavior").
No, I'm not talking about the video of a man being wrestled to the ground for cutting a line at Wal-Mat.
Merchants like Wal-Mart (the nations largest retailer) are definitely more aggressive this year in wooing the bargain shoppers -- they need to be.
They kicked off the season especially early this year, with a "holiday ad campaign that rolled out Nov. 1 -- the earliest in the company's history."
The "pink elephant" in the room is the "rising energy prices" -- And all of the retailers are in a panic to front-load the shopping season -- before consumers get socked with winter heating bills, which are expected to run as much as 50 percent higher than a year ago.
Let me repeat that: 50 percent higher that a year ago (I'm feeling the breeze just thinking about it).
A "PINK ELEPHANT" PRIMER: The major oil companies are expected to earn $96 billion in profits this year -- and they don't plan on giving any of that money back.
Remember that staged Senate hearing where the oil giants defended their record $34 billion in summertime profits by saying Wall Street is twice as greedy.
I heard they even tried the O.J. Simpson defense saying they are "looking for the real killers." -- isn't that just crude behavior, but wait it gets worse.
Black Friday shoppers woke up early but they are cautious. One shopper noted in a news story that she plans to spend about $1,000 this year on Christmas gifts, half of what she spent last year.
"Everything's up, including the price of gas. I have to pay to heat my home," the woman said.
A recent edition of the PBS show "NOW" focused on the "Crude Behavior" from the major oil companies. In that story they said, "What is driving up the cost of driving? Critics say big oil companies push up prices by keeping a lid on how much gasoline gets refined."
CB (the enormous "Pink Elephant" everyone wants to ignore) is the major oil companies. And she's about to take a big shit on your head.
Prices are up 56% over the past two years. This has been great for stockholders of oil companies but it is killing lower-income people who have to drive a lot to work or for work.
Senator Ron Wyden said, "What they did is look at how to limit production in order to boost their profits-- not my words-- the words of the oil industry."
Here's a little bit from the actual transcript from the PBS "NOW" broadcast and investigator Maria Hinojosa:
MARIA HINOJOSA: Polls show that public opinion is blaming the big oil companies for these high prices ... and a NOW investigation has found the public has good reason. In fact, after reaching out to industry analysts, consumer advocates, members of Congress and whistle-blowers, we've found the industry has taken active steps to keep prices and profits at record highs.
JAMIE COURT:The reason they're making world-record profits is 'cause they're charging world-record prices for gasoline and heating oil that doesn't cost them world-record production costs to make.
MARIA HINOJOSA: But the oil companies say, it isn't their fault they blame high crude prices - point fingers at destruction from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - imply it might be your local gas dealer.
No way, says Tim Hamilton, who represents about 400 independent station owners in Washington state. He says his colleagues are getting squeezed - and the latest government figures back him up - on average, retailers took in only six cents of the two and a half dollars we paid per gallon.
TIM HAMILTON: If there's one sector of the economy that has been hurt worst by the price hike, it's the local gasoline dealer. But, unfortunately, due to an effort by the oil companies, and, a lack of understanding, they often get blamed for this. And it's not their fault.
MARIA HINOJOSA: Well, what about the hurricanes? Yes, Katrina and Rita did temporarily shut down a significant part of oil and gas production in the U.S. - and prices spiked. But look at this chart ... why were gas prices rising well before the hurricanes hit?
And what about the price of crude? Sure, it does account for about half the cost of gasoline. And when OPEC raises its price, the oil companies make plenty of money from the crude they produce themselves.
But look at this chart ... why did the price of gas increase three times as much as the price of crude in the month leading up to Katrina?
Jamie Court is a consumer advocate in Los Angeles who's been tracking the oil companies.
JAMIE COURT: In times of peak demand and low supply, they can charge $3 per gallon for gasoline, but the fact is it doesn't cost them more than a dollar-something to make that gasoline.
MARIA HINOJOSA: And the companies are making record profits. Only nine months into 2005,
Royal-Dutch Shell profits - 21 billion dollars;
British Petroleum - 15 billion;
Conoco Phillips - 10 billion;
Chevron - 10 billion.
And the most profitable company in the world by far, Exxon Mobil, just reported more than 25 billion dollars in profits for the first nine months of this year. In fact, in just this past quarter, Exxon had made three times the total profit Time-Warner made all of last year.
So, if the gas station owners... and the hurricanes... and the cost of crude don't account for all of the price hikes ... what else does?
JAMIE COURT:Oil companies have manipulated supply so that when there's-- gonna be a peak season of demand, they then withhold supply. And when there aren't adequate inventories, the system is rigged for a shortage, even though it's artificial.
Seasons Greetings from the oil companies (and stay warm, if you can afford it).
By Henry Cruz
 I imagine a small sign posted on the back of Spielberg's directors chair: "NO INSANE PUBLICITY STUNTS PLEASE" -- this in not War of the worlds, dammit.
"The official strategy is for the movie to speak for itself," says an insider to LA Weekly.
That's right, mum's the word on the "Munich" set.
Director Steven Spielberg is making sure folks don't boycott his new film "Munich" because of a celebs "nutball behavior" (leave that to the political nuts).
Was it Tom's public "rants" against psychiatry and postpartum drugs when he should have been talking about the making of a great moive? Instead, he was begging, look at me, listen to me, I know more than you.
Or, maybe it was the image of Cruise leapfrogging on Oprah's sofa shouting his love to the world. Why make it all about you, Tom? Talk about the damn movie.
Sound "tacky," huh?
It was "tacky" enough to land him in the number one spot as the "tackiest star of the year" in the Los Angeles Daily News list, (in a reader vote).
But, has Mr.Cruises' Love-me-daddy publicity stunts effected the way movies are now promoted?
Call it the "Cruise effect" -- for people who want people to take their films seriously.
For Mr. Spielberg's "Munich" it was announced that there will "be no press junket,"
"no movie premiere," -- save that red carpet for "Mission Impossible 6"
and following in the foot steps of "Passion of the Christ" --
-- no "Oscar marketing campaign."
A year back Gibson announced that he wouldn't engage in the usual Oscar marketing frenzy for his film and it was overlooked at Academy Awards time even though it was a box-office hit and artistic endeavor. I heard a rumble about a "Jewish Mafia" shutting down those "Oscar" hopes, but that was just a rumor.
The decision to have "no press" -- and definitely no one talk to Tom Cruise -- is said to be the directors decision, alone. There is talk Spielberg might do a "Time Magazine" cover story, but definitely no broadcast interviews -- and definitely no Oprah..
Lesson learned: The official strategy is for the "movie" to do all the speaking (wink, wink).
LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS "TACKIEST STARS" OF THE YEAR:
1. TOM CRUISE (Oprah couch-jumping version sold separately)
2. PARIS HILTON (those 15 minute minutes are almost up)
3. Whtney Houson / Bobby Brown (where's the crack pipe?)
4. Jude Law / Sienna Miller (please no more sexy nannies)
5. Anna Nicole Smith (only "old men"need apply)
By Henry Cruz
Friday, November 25, 2005
 If you're a woman reading this "roll over and play dead" because you have just been raped by "politics."
Stop me if this sounds familiar: An administration, when confronted with science that doesn't conform with its political agenda, decides to rewrite it until it satisfies the conservative view.
I'll give you a second to let that glimmer of recognition shine through.
HEY "FDA" COME SAY "HI" TO STUPID OVER HERE: One would think that a pill that "reduces the demand for abortions" would make some antiabortion groups jump for joy. Instead, it's set us back to the stone ages.
THE BASICS: Plan B, a safe concentrated dose of the hormones found in normal birth control pills, is a form of emergency contraception. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex it can prevent pregnancy. The closer it is taken to intercourse, the more effective it tends to be. Plan B impedes both ovulation and fertilization and has been classified by the FDA itself as a contraceptive. This puts it in the same category as the pill and condoms.
You with me so far? Sounds very basic, right? Well, keep reading, but be warned you might spill your coffee over this one.
A few words of wisdom from newspapers around country:
The "highly unusual manner" in which FDA rejected Barr's original Plan B application leads to the synopsis that "the denial was based on politics, not medicine," according to a Register editorial. "FDA has used bureaucratic sleight of hand to deny easy access to a safe, effective contraceptive," the editorial says, concluding, "The result will be more unwanted pregnancies and more abortions" (New Haven Register, 11/21).
"FDA must be reformed from the top" because the agency has become "clumsy, impotent, too cozy with the drug industry and far from the trustworthy apolitical voice of science it must be if it is to protect the public," a Star-Ledger editorial says. The GAO report likely proves that "officials let antiabortion politics govern what should have been a scientific evaluation," the editorial says, concluding, "Congress should press the White House on why it has allowed a regulatory agency that had been ... regarded as a gold standard around the world to crumble into partisan mediocrity" (Newark Star-Ledger, 11/21).
It is "bad enough" that Plan B has "fallen victim to the culture wars," even though scientists think that the drug could prevent half the number of unplanned pregnancies and "hence, an untold number of abortions," a Sun-Sentinel editorial says. "But by allowing itself to become a tool of social conservatives," FDA has shown that "even more than the health and safety of Americans, it is driven to protect the health of whatever political movement it chooses," the editorial says (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 11/20).
FDA's handling of the Plan B applications is "another example of the Bush administration's approach to health policy: Ignore the science and indulge activists on the right," Journal columnist Harrop writes in an opinion piece. Some opponents of Plan B see the drug "as a green light for teenagers to have sex," but "there is little merit in the argument," Harrop writes. Sexual activity among teens is a concern, but Plan B is an "extension of the birth control pills, diaphragms and condoms that teens already obtain," Harrop says, adding that while Plan B cannot "stop teen promiscuity," it "could stop teen pregnancy" (Harrop, Providence Journal, 11/21).
With conservative Republicans in charge, this Congress probably won't be forcing the Food and Drug Administration to put the emergency contraceptive Plan B on pharmacy shelves. Advocates have already turned to another venue: the courts. According to the lawsuit, Crawford and FDA officials have not only ignored "sound science," but have held Plan B to a "higher and different standard" than other over-the-counter drugs. "Our lawsuit shows that the FDA is breaking its own rules," says Center for Reproductive rights staff attorney Nan Strauss. The Justice Department has been trying to get the suit thrown out, but Strauss and her colleagues think the GAO report will only bolster their case. A court proceeding is slated for December 20 at the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of New York. Strauss says, "It's clear the agency wasn't doing its job or taking science into account." (Village Voice, New York 11/23)
A second application to sell Plan B over the counter has been filed, and again the FDA has postponed a decision, meaning it could be years before the FDA acts on it.
Ladies, please don't let this one get buried under a pile.
By Henry Cruz
 "I love magic," Harry says early in the movie "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." And apparently he's not alone.
Even with a PG13 rating, for it's darker themes, the wizard's cup overflowed last weekend taking in $102 million. Last years "Prisoner of Azkaban" opened at $93.7 million.
Goblet execs said the record breaking results exceeded all of the studios expectations.
Indeed, the story about a boy wizard coping with power and love continues to lure fans of all ages. People are growing up with Harry Potter, and they're turning out to see what happens next to him. According to distributor Warner Bros., 38% of moviegoers were adults attending without children.
This has a few Hollywood execs hoping the magic rubs off on something else at the multiplex.
"Potter" franchise matures smoothly
British director Mike Newell does justice to J.K. Rowling's book. I'm sure he had hard choices to make about what parts of the 700 page book to leave out.
Goblet does clock in at two-and-a-half hours -- it's certainly a lot to take in at one sitting. That said, some of this film actually seemed rushed. I would have enjoyed a slower pace to offer more characterization; fan favorites Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger seem more like bit players in this film.
Hell, why not get crazy and go for a two part movie version of the book -- like the way they did "Kill Bill volume one" and then "Kill Bill volume two" -- there's certainly enough material available to explore.
But that's a minor complaint, the film does a great job of marrying "eye-popping special effects" with "quieter moments of coming-of-age teen turmoil." The darker plot centers on the "Triwizard Tournament," a competition among magical teens from around the world.
You can tell the director feels right at home at Hogworth's and blends bits of humor with a fine cast. There is a funny scene where a giggling female ghost makes a game out of trying to see Harry naked through the suds of his bath.
Miranda Richardson is also quirky and energetic as journalist Rita Skeeter. Ralph Fiennes makes his first appearance as the terrifying Lord Voldemort, the evil wizard who killed Harry's parents.
Does a "Darker Potter" leave audiences wanting more?
There no doubt this is a "darker film" than the previous ones. But fear works because it's a part of the human experience.
At a time when critics complain that we are in a era of cultural decline (that everything gets dumber and dumber) NPR's John Powers says Potter is more "intelligent."
He says the J.K. Rowling's series is wildly successful because it avoids "the static world" and dares to "go there" by showing the "moral and psychological growth of Potter."
Powell says, "audiences are turned on by stories that show people and situations changing." It's not a perfect world.
Just like real life: people change, relationships fade, and yes, just like real life people die.
In his book, "Everything bad is good for you," author Steven Johnson argues that we actually become "smarter" by watching characters who don't stay the same. He points out the success of HBO's Sopranos has all to do with a world where bad times can get worse-- and people can "get whacked" before lunch.
The Potter effect says, "give us better films!"
Whatever the themes in "Harry Potter" -- a quarter of a billion in ticket sales is the kind of film that studio executives lie in bed dreaming about (talk about a happy ending).
A USA Today article noted the effects of Potter on the rest of the fantasy world. They said that "sales of science fiction and fantasy books have jumped 8.5% in the past five years - nearly double the rate for all consumer books. -- much of that growth was sparked by the popularity of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series." I think we'll we be seeing more fantasy films in the years to come.
So, when you hear talk about a sluggish year at the box office -- statistics do say fewer movie tickets were sold in 2005 than the past three years -- where should you point the finger?
I would start with the fact that Hollywood lacks imagination.
The success of "Potter" this week indicates the slump has more to do with the weak product lineup, rather than what some have said: "that audiences were skipping movies in favor of home-entertainment options."
The films coming out of Hollywood this year are not good enough. Bottom line: if you get people to say "I want to see that," they will drop everything and come to the theater.
By Henry Cruz
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
 The pregnant Halle Berry, as the new face of Versace, might get a nod from Pope Benedict.
We all heard this week that Halle Berry and boyfriend Michael Ealy are expecting a child out of wedlock -- but did you know that the newest Pope is "sinful" about high-fashion?
Known to many as a "bit of a clotheshorse," the Pope has a taste for Prada shoes and Gucci sunglasses. In stark contrast, the previous Pope John XXIII taste in clothes was extremely simple, demonstrated by the worn loafers that were on his feet as his body lay in state.
Well, this new Pope is here to say gluttony and high-fashion is not a deadly sin.
It was reported in "The Tablet," a Roman Catholic newspaper in England, Pope Benedict ditched long-time tailor (Annibale Gammarelli), whose firm has been serving the Vatican since 1792.
The paper also pointed out the new pope's expensive sunglasses and shoes -- and we thought only "tired queens" wore expensive designer clothes. In addition to designer sunglasses, the Pope has favored padded quilt jackets, jumpsuits, baseball caps.
(Girlfriend, did we hear that right? -- "jumpsuits" and "padded quilt jackets?" -- now, that's just wrong). Jesus must be rolling over in his grave.
How long before the Pope does his own Gucci ads in Vogue magazine?
By Henry Cruz
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
 Just how broke is Michael Jackson? The Singer is reportedly hard at work -- "writing constantly" -- on his new album, which includes "a song to thank his fans for sticking by him," according to MSNBC.
He apparently wrote the "thank you" song during the course of his recent trial, and called it: "You Are So Beautiful."
Earlier in the week, the New York Post reported that Jackson, 47, planned "to sing with his children, eight-year-old son Prince Michael, seven-year-old daughter Paris and three-year-old son Prince Michael II, called Blanket...at a London recording studio."
Will he ever live in the USA again?? As Jackson "continues to live off the Prince of Bahrain," (Fox News) the news came in that he had fired his two of his closest confidantes and that Jackson is in debt to the tune of $270 million.
Jackson, who also shut down his own web site this week, said he has no plans to tour but a spokesperson did say he "would probably be doing film." -- I'd pay to see a reality show of his new adventures in Bahrain (I smell pay-per-view).
The pop star recorded a song for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but we think he might need to rethink that -- and go out and generate some cash for himself first.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
 Here's the question of the week: "does your personal life make you a better leader?" Consider this, Mayor Gulliani had an ugly public divorce, his wife called him a slob in the press; but he was the best man running things during 9/11. Never home, focused on the job, and not pussy whipped makes a damn good CEO. How about a senate bill to give democrats "closed sessions" during every Tuesday's panty party?
If history is any indication, its clear that our best heroes are not running the kids to soccer practice.
President Clinton challenged critics this week who said he would be a great president were it not for his failed impeachment -- Can we fault him if he played with other women? -- Hilary is definitely not shopping at Victoria Secrets!
"It was an egregious abuse of the Constitution and law and history of our country," Clinton said. "Now if you want to hold it against me that I did something wrong, that's a fair deal," Clinton said. "If you do that, then you have a whole lot of other questions, which is how many other presidents do you have to downgrade and what are you going to do with all those Republican congressmen, you know, that had problems?"
His remarks were cheered loudly by the audience. How about a standing ovation? I mean talk about time management; he balanced the budget, talked to world leaders all while getting oral in the oval office.
The American people as a body politic is getting side tracked by silly things like moral values. Fuck moral values!
Great leaders are thinkers and why should we care if they fancy a pink panty party in their personal life? I say give them anything they need that clears their heads to think about the important issues.
Over in New Jersey, this past weeks governor's race, Senator Jon Corzine won against opponent Douglas Forrester, but it got real personal in those last few days. In a last-minute barrage of attack ads we saw Mr. Corzine's ex-wife was quoted as declaring that unlike Mr. Forrester, "Jon did let his family down, and he'll probably let New Jersey down, too." -- Who cares if Corzines ex wife was let down? -- can the man bring us a stronger city is the key question?
Voters need to focus on the business that effects people lives, not their private lives. All of our best leaders were not known as experts in the "domestic arena." Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson to name a few -- clearly, all great leaders, right -- well, each of them had a skeleton buried in a closet. They didn't betray the voters the way they betrayed their spouses and that's what's good leadership is all about. You put the needs of the many in front of a silly marriage -- (all while getting a side salad).
Trust this, any man that is great at his personal relationship -- you know, the guy coaching little league baseball and bringing his wife flowers every Friday night -- is not at all capable of making this a better country.
Friday, November 11, 2005
 A BIG BLOW TO SIN CITY? -- Jessica Alba says she's typecast because she's only getting offered roles as "whores" and "sexy maids."
The actress, who played a stripper in "Sin City," is suddenly a serious actress and wants parts offered to Natalie Portman. -- Did girlfriend miss the study that said "sexual content on TV is higher than ever (according to the Kaiser Family Foundation)."
Hey Alba, it's time to loosen up that bra, "everybody else is doing it!" -- join that special happy club-for-men!
Hey wait a minute, stop the presses isn't this the same chick that rented: "Latex and Fetish Island," (a spanking video) according to the National Enquirer.
These wannabee serious types; how quickly they turn on you.
Speaking to PageSix.com Alba said: "The scripts I get are always for the whore, or the motorcycle chick in leather, or the horny maid." -- Oh wow, sounds like another "double fisted trouser-rubbing" masterpiece to us here at the bosh.
"I get all those screenplays that start, 'Tawnya is in the shower," She says. "The water streams down her naked, perky breasts.' Somehow, I don't think this is happening to Natalie Portman."
Oh, Waaaah; boo-hoo, please no more perky breasts!
I'm tired of being just another pretty face!
Send me scripts where I'm a doctor saving the world from a bird flu.
NOTE TO ALBA: Wake up and smell the man sausage, spanking is fun!
Okay, here's the deal, honey.
There's an unspoken rule in Hollywood that all "sexy roles" must go to "sexy girls" who get horny the major plotline-- and take a shower with perky breasts: it's how Hollywood gets men to fill movie seats!
Let agree finally that all that "serious acting" with any deep-message must go to Kathy Bates (and please make sure she keeps her clothes on).
BY HENRY CRUZ
 I posted the "Associated Press News story" below where they used a clip of my recent rant on the topic of Intelligent Design (you can read my whole blog somewhere on this page if you want to take it all in).
What can I say that hasn't already been said? There's a scene in that film, "Meet the Fockers," where Robert DeNiro teaches his grandson to raise his two fingers to his eyes to say: "I'm watching you." -- well, I'm doing that gesture right now while typing with one hand.
I'm watching you Kansas! If you need help crossing the street you can call me (ask the operator to help you dial). I know how to deal with special people.
I did get a few letters from people "pro" and "con" on the Darwin issue and the best one came from a biology teacher. She basically said that "religious extremists" are forcing their beliefs on the rest of us. My reply to that is "fight back." -- it took one lady, by the name of Rosa Parks, to start a movement against racial segregation. Don't sit for it!
I'm not against religion at all, and I have said my prayers at the right times -- and the right place. Science class just isn't the right place for "religion." Period.
I read today that Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson told citizens in Pennsylvania that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design" and warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck. Does Pat have a better connection to God than I do (is he on speed dial)?
I'm sure he's just saying that to "shock" people, right? He actually would make a great replacement for radio shock jock: Howard Stern; I mean, he can't be serious. Can he?
write me your thoughts and I'll post them in the near future.
BY HENRY CRUZ
Selected reaction to Kansas' new science standards
Associated Press
Reactions to Kansas' new science standards, which treat evolution as a flawed and controversial theory:
"A year from now, they'll be singing the new Kansas state anthem (a little tune from the 'Wizard of Oz'): If I only had a brain." - Henry Cruz, a writer on The Bosh, an Internet gossip and entertainment news site.
"It's about time. ... Now the thinking population is getting its turn at putting in place a faith that was believed by centuries until 'The Origin of the Species' replaced it." - J. Grant Swank Jr., a writer on MichNews.com, a conservative Internet site, under the headline, "Darwin Challenged. God Praised."
"It stretches incredulity that this board of education could not have been aware of the dangerous waters in which they have dived head first." - Joel Kaplan, president of B'nai B'rith International, which said the new standards were an assault on the separation of church and state.
"Let's face it, the majority of the scientific community is pro-Darwin, is not in favor of looking at Darwinian theory critically, and so if the news media reports what the scientific community says, that's the viewpoint." - Jonathan Wells, senior fellow at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, which supports research questioning evolution.
"If we're going to bring high-tech jobs to Kansas, and to the U.S. in general, we need a work force that is knowledgeable about science. This decision does nothing to help prepare our children to compete in the world economy and that concerns me greatly." - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, in a statement.
"The state school board in Kansas has approved science standards that include a balanced teaching of evolution that permits students to look at alternative viewpoints, including intelligent design." - The Traditional Values Coalition, on its Web site.
"Science is what it is, and religion is what it is, and no rewriting by anybody will change what is an inappropriate effort to inject religion into the classroom. Talk about unintelligent design." - The Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel, in a short editorial on its Web site.
"No longer will Darwin be taught dogmatically in Kansas public schools. Scientific evidence, not philosophical presuppositions, will now guide the presentation of the data for and against each aspect of the Darwinian theory." - the Intelligent Design Network, which argues that some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause.
"My wife and I were planning on traveling from our home in North Carolina to Yellowstone for next year's vacation; however, we will now be diverting our trip so as to avoid having to travel through Kansas at all. Your state has a real problem." - e-mail to the Kansas Department of Commerce. The agency declined to release the writer's name, citing privacy concerns.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
 BUDDY, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? -- The major oil companies are expected to earn $96 billion in profits this year (that's a lot of cabbage) which probes the question: "What you gon' do with all that junk?"
I know, we'll throw a "Senate party" and invite in the media to talk about it.
GOUGE-GATE OIL PROBE: At a staged Senate hearing the oil giants defended their record $34 billion in summertime profits by saying Wall Street is twice as greedy. I think they even tried the O.J. Simpson defense saying they are "looking for the real killers."
Exxon Mobil's veteran chief Lee Raymond flatly told a Senate hearing yesterday that "oil [profit] numbers are huge - because our industry is huge." -- and my wife needs to shop at Gucci.
"On an apples-to-apples comparison, we're in line with the average of all U.S. industries," he said. Is $96 billion the new average for company profits?
Oil lobbyists warned the Senators (most of which are already in their right pocket) in a veiled threat that a windfall tax most likely would disrupt exploration and gasoline refining, creating even higher prices and shortages.
"History teaches us that punitive measures, hastily crafted in reaction to short-term market fluctuations, will likely have unintended negative consequences," said Raymond.
TAX BREAK SURPRISE: the oil companies did admit they didn't need the $15 billion in tax breaks voted to them recently by Congress (but they didn't offer to give it back).
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES WITH THE HUNGRY-MAN: The main point that the best P.R. company can't overlook is how a tiny minority now owns the means of producing the kind of wealth that the oil industry generates while people go hungry, cannot find jobs and go without basic necessities like health care and adequate housing.
How about you try the "Bill Gates approach to wealth," and give back a few dollars to those that can't by.
By Henry Cruz
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
 Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO has viewers who are running (not walking) away from the show, according to Eonline.
This past Sunday only 1.2 million HBO subscribers tuned in and since the departure of "Sex and the City" lead in "the show has struggled to put up numbers substantially bigger than that of (recently canceled) Lisa Kudrow's The Comeback."
HBO has renewed Rome, which brings in more viewers than Curb, and Extras, which doesn't. That british humor must translate well to bosses at that network.
According to eonline: "Curb was the weakest ratings link in a powerhouse lineup that included Sex and the City and The Sopranos. Now, it's more a symptom, than a leading cause, of HBO's overall sagging Sunday fortunes. Last month, Daily Variety reported that the pay cable network's viewership levels were down 58 percent on that night from 2004."
Consensus among the media says that something is not quite right in Larry David's neighborhood.
"Has anyone else been noticing how lousy the new episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm are?" Adam Buckman asked in the New York Post on Oct. 10.
Last week, Variety's Brian Lowry noted the show "has lurched out of the starting gate, sinking to its nadir with an episode in which the son of a Japanese kamikaze pilot (he survived; get it?) attempts suicide in response to Larry's insensitivity."
Even on the sports zone, columnist Pete McEntegart wondered aloud Tuesday if "Larry David is running out of ideas" and cited a few instances of old Seinfeld gags being recycled on the green-friendly Curb. (David co-created Seinfeld.)
DARK DAYS AHEAD: For the first time in six years, HBO will go months without new episodes of an original prime-time series says USA Today. Instead, it will air repeats of The Sopranos and Deadwood from December to March 2006.
HBO had slotted Big Love - a new comedic drama that stars Bill Paxton as a polygamist with three wives - in January, but it reversed course and probably will hold back that series until summer.
HBO's slogan used to be: "its not tv" uh, that might need a rewrite to something like "we need some new tv ideas" (and fast).
"It's worse than the school yard drug dealer pushing crack to our kids," says my Aunt Madge yelling into the phone. She's a woman of science and Intelligent Design doesn't sit well with her.
"We're not in Kansas anymore," I respond dryly.
"This junk science will keep our kids dumb," Madge offers. "Intelligent design? Isn't that an oxymoron? -- there's no intelligence in religion."
"Let it go," I offer. "Kansas was always the retarded stepchild nobody talked about."
INTELLIGENT DESIGN, that oh-so holy theory that suggests we're so complicated a "higher power" had a hand in it (personally, I'm an uncomplicated guy with a foot fetish).
It's true; the state of Kansas approved new science for public schools that cast a doubt on evolution. Maybe the students found science so boring they needed a better plot (lots of tall tales in the good book).
A year from now they'll be singing the new Kansas state anthem (a little tune from the "Wizard of Oz"): If I only had a brain.
Well, God gets his front row seat in that science class. The fundamentalists have won and the "medieval mindset" is now "in."
Face it, the book of Genesis got an upgrade into scientific fact. Creationism and public schools are married now (fuck the separation between church and state that's so passe). Evangelicals should read the chapter that covers protecting our planet from human activities that cause global warming.
Genesis 2:15 justified it this way: "The Lord God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." -- and so far humans are doing a bang up job.
Since I'm not in Kansas (with the retards) I will offer my view here. If there was a Designer for all this why did he create this place and then let it go hell, so to speak. Was hurricane Katrina a part of that wonderful design?
Intelligent Design(ers) need to take their message down the hall to a different classroom; because religion deals with issues of philosophy, and does not constitute science (far from).
EVOLUTION is knocking on our doorsteps, consider the recent hurricane season, earth quakes, and the deadly avian bird flu. -- things are changing fast and it looks like humans are just in the way. And it will be science (not a prayer to Jesus) that saves us from extinction.
There I said it, I only hope someone is intelligent enough to understand it.
Now, let's all say a prayer for the special people of Kansas. Amen.
By Henry Cruz
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
 Former Star Trek Captain William Shatner must have gotten a look at last weeks totals for the DVD and video game release of "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" (which brought in over $200 million) -- Sci-fi still has some legs out there!
Mr. Shatner says he wants to bring the cult sci-fi show back to TV - he's writing a pilot for a prequel show: Star Trek.
The actor, who played Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, says he wants to bring the glory days back to the show and is working on a treatment that will pre-date the first episode.
He says, "I'm writing a couple of books on the adolescent Captain Kirk/Spock thing as a prequel. It's also an idea for CBS to use as the next series of Star Trek." If I worked at CBS I would put that one on a fast track.
I hope the treatment has room for a young Sulu (originally played by George Takei -- who came out of the closet last week) as he explores some of his own darker deep space.
 Some things just leave a bad taste in your mouth. Yea, campus life is filled with stories of students "acting a fool." But, last months "ghetto" party at the University of Chicago had the wrong ingredients: wealthy white students wearing sideways baseball caps, sagged jeans and gold chains and listening to 50 Cent while sipping from beer bottles wrapped in brown paper bags. This was no innocent toga party; it was making a joke of societies poor.
According to the Chicago Tribune the "straight thuggin' party at the university set off a campus debate about race relations at the school, whose undergrad population is around 4 percent black.
University's president Don Randel called the theme of the party offensive and said it "parodied racial stereotypes based on assumptions about economically disadvantaged members of society."
When you have money, you have a lot more choice in how you shape your life. "Ghetto" is less about choice then just surviving and hoping you make it through the day without being shot. Not many minorities get the option to get a higher education, and if they do they are called "sellouts."
Last week Filmmaker Spike Lee (speaking to a college audience) criticized rapper 50 Cent for a movie poster "Get Rich or Die Trying" -- saying it perpetuated negative stereotypes about black youth.
Lee said he believes popular media today instills the idea that young black men "are called an 'Oreo' or sellout if you aren't drinking a 40, smoking a blunt and holding your balls."
The problem with young black men and women today, Lee said, is that they equate acting intelligently with acting "white," a belief he said is further perpetuated by the media.
Maybe that's why many colleges are only 4 percent black, it's not the cool move to be smart. But why do white kids love it?
One writer suggested copying "ghetto" culture is form of flattery. It’s true that the largest consumers of hip-hop music are suburban white kids, who adopt the music, the language and the dress as part of their youth culture. They all want to be down.
The few black students that make it to a college campus are far from flattered, they are angry. There is a "mean-spiritedness surrounding some of these gatherings." A flyer for a party at another college encourages students to bring empty beer bottles to strew around the dorm, draw graffiti on the walls and steal computers from their fellow students. You get the feeling that the parties have less to do with embracing the culture, and instead making a joke out it.
By Henry Cruz
Monday, November 07, 2005
 Aaron McGruder's TV adaptation of his comic strip "The Boondocks" (airing 11pm on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim) is smothered in "racial satire," but its got bite behind it. You can tell the creators spent some time and effort on the visuals, hinting a innocence found in the popular Japanese "anime" style. The first episode I watched hits you over the head with the "n" word, but has the ''from the mouths of babes" humor, where cute little cartoon kids deliver brutal, unadulterated opinions about politics and pop culture." It's falls somewhere between "South Park" and edgy ''Chappelle's Show."
In that first episode, Riley and Huey Freeman (8 and 10-year old brothers) moved into white suburbs by their well-meaning ''Granddad," Robert Freeman. A funny segment has the militantly Huey talking about "How Ronald Reagan was the devil" only to be applauded by rich white people (so insulated from reality they keep saying, "you are so well spoken."). Another part has a rich white kid who thinks he is a gangsta -- and acts very ghetto. There is also the black butler who "despises ambitious blacks such as Granddad." It's not always comfortable to watch and some people will compare the racial rants to ''All in the Family" digging into our own hang-ups. It's not for kids, but will no doubt be a big hit with the college age audiences who are open to such discussions.
By Henry Cruz
Friday, November 04, 2005
 What do you do when the 20 year love-fest is over? Well, if you're Infinity Broadcasting you say: "Howard don't let the door slap you on your ass on the way out."
In a dumb move, that will drive sales of Sirius Radio, Howard Stern's bosses (Infinity) bought all the print ad space in the new issue of Adage bashing Stern.
One of the ads suggests they are "cleaning up the air waves" (with a picture of an air freshener) when replacements David Lee Roth, Adam Corolla and Penn Jillette hit the air.
The question is whether anyone will want to listen to David Lee Roth or Adam Corolla. Many stations are now changing to all-talk formats called "Free FM"- a jab at Stern's new pay-service Sirius. But radio experts wonder with the "FCC bearing down on broadcasters in the post-Janet Jackson nipplage era, just how 'free' can this new format be?"
If I were Infinity I might want to thank Stern for 20 plus years at the company, not throwing him under the bus. No such luck, they just want him to shut up already. Stern revealed this morning that Infinity has sent him "threatening legal letters about recent broadcasts."
At heart of the legal threats is a "cease and desist that Stern stop making fun of radio head-honcho Joel Hollander and discontinue discussions of his impending move to Sirius satellite radio."
MEANWHILE, Sirius announced it now expects to add 800,000 subscribers in the fall quarter. Which means the expected subscribers will exceed three million by the end of the year, more than its earlier projection of just hitting three million.
"We are very enthusiastic about our prospects for the important holiday season. We also believe our momentum will continue into 2006," Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin told analysts during a conference call yesterday.
Hey Infinity, saying goodbye doesn't have to be so nasty.
By Henry Cruz (henrycruz) .
Thursday, November 03, 2005
 Steve Jobs take some notes on history: Playboy Enterprises Inc. and Penthouse Media Group Inc., are considering adult movies for portable video players such as Apple Computer Inc.'s new iPod (sounds like a match made in heaven).
While Apple sold 1 million music videos and television shows for its new video iPod, many media outlets have a "wait and see" attitude to file sharing. So, adding adult content is a natural extension for mobile video players.
"When you look at what has driven the emerging technology for media distribution over the last 50 years, it's music and adult content," said David Bank, an analyst for RBC Capital Markets in New York. "It seems like a natural fit."
Ultimately, it will be content (adult or otherwise) that decides the fate of the video iPod -- and sexy babes might just be that "sweet spot" to get some extra players out there.
By Henry Cruz
 The fall TV Line up has a few Sci-fi newbies seeking some buzz -- and CBS wants to make sure "Threshold" gets a chance. CBS will offer "three episodes of the rookie suspense drama free and without advertising on http://www.CBS.com." -- I checked out a few of the episodes myself and found it makes the cut (so check it out).
Each episode will be streamed on demand following its airing in the Friday 9 p.m. time slot. At present, the episode "Blood of the Children," which originally aired September 23, is available for viewing on CBS.com through Friday. "Revelations," which airs Friday, will be available for streaming from November 9-11. "Progeny" will follow that same pattern and be available online from November 16-18.
"We think that the traditional network run will always be the primary broadcast, but this is an opportunity to recruit viewers that may not have experienced the show yet or (provide a chance) for those that missed an episode to get caught up," said Chris Ender, senior vp CBS Communications Group.
The show is particularly well-suited for this type of promotion, he added. "The Internet audience loves to debate the paranormal and unravel mysteries, so this content fits perfectly with this platform."
"Threshold" (from the creators of the Star Trek series) revolves around a team of experts that join forces when the U.S. Navy discovers an extraterrestrial craft has landed in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. It stars Carla Gugino, Charles S. Dutton and Brian Van Holt. It's smart, funny "cult" worthy.
By Henry Cruz
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