Dear Kevin Spacey,

Dear Kev,

You used to be my most favorite actor.  Note the operative "used to be."  I'm upset and I think that I have a right to be so.  Most of it is your own fault.  I still love you, just not as much.  And my "love" will now always be tempered with a caveat. 

So "poag mahone"- and I know that you know what that means.  But I say it kindly.

I became inordinately fond of you when we first met- in the t.v. series, "The Wise Guy."  You were the PERFECT villain.  Really detestable!!!  But with excellent writing AND acting, you were sometimes human- in other words- not all bad with some redeeming qualities.  What fun that role must have been!

You were a not so nice guy to loveable actor Jack Lemmon in "Glengarry Glen Ross." BTW, Nice tribute to him on my all-time fav channel- Turner Classics.  And what a magnificent piece of work in "The Usual Suspects."  The last minute of that film is quite remarkable in a rather confusing plot, to say the least.  The only comparable I can come up with is some of those exquisite actors in the old silents.  Not a word & we "get it." Such a piece of acting!  You were once again truly EVIL.  

While it's true we've never had a face-to-face, we almost have & that works for me.  A few years ago when I was a Newporter (RI., of course), you were honored & rec'd an award there. My exercise pal, Mrs. Nuala Pell was presenting it (spouse of the famous R.I. Senator Claiborne Pell, father of Pell Grants). I could have gone to the reception & met you, but I demurred because of the $- son beginning college & all that.

But I digress- when they started advertising a need for extras for the Balto. based production of Netflix's "House of Cards," I pondered, then thought, why the heck not?  My uncle was an extra in "Mystic Pizza" filmed in New London and kept telling us the set talk was about this new young actress- Julia Roberts (He could have been in more films if he'd owned a tuxedo). So I applied- one more item off the bucket list.  He had said it was a lot of sitting around.  Hey, I could do that. After all- I have northern European white girl flat ass syndrome- perfect for lounging.  Hah!!!

So I excitedly said YES when the casting call came.  I was to play a military wife in a party scene.  Dress appropriately (booooring). Be there by 7 pm.

By 9:30 after being fed & watered and shuffled about, I had spent a lot of time sitting.  And that's where the good news ends.  About ?120 of were shuffled up to the set for the party scene- standing only, of course.  So there I was with Robin Wright (co-star from "The Princess Bride" & "Forrest Bump") & two ? other major actors not 12 feet from me.  Of course, it was mostly your back I saw, but it's a FINE back.

Take 1, take 1, take 3, take 500.  I lost count.  A few lousy lines. We ALL had them memorized.  Maybe 60 sec. of usable film.  We were there until 6 a.m.  SIX AM!!!!  Hello!!!!  On our feet!  We had no stand-in's- unlike yourself.  I'm 60 (well, that's what I told casting & I'm sticking with it).  My body is not made for this!!

With a bunch of young kids (assistants, aides, interns, who knows?) hollering at us- look lively!  Stop talking!  Mime!  Don't drink what's in your glasses!  Freeze!  Places!  Blah, blah, blah, yacketty, smacketty.  I could easily have taken any one of them on.  Quiet!  Then there was the ass't who spent a lot of his time scratching his balls (really, why do guys do that?  Checking to see if they're still there? jock itch? twisted underwear?).

We women were in heels and sitting whenever, wherever we could.  We learned not to believe anyone when they said they were filming immediately if your stand-in was there.  Duh.  Why so many takes?  Only a few involved camera/lighting changes.  Are we not human?  Do we not bleed?  Yeah, our pay is lousy, but...

I finally figured out who the main director was- older dude (like unlike many of the PAID others- an ADULT).  I could have slapped him silly. Kill the director!  I did see you having a few words with him.  I know what I would have told him- what the fuck?  how many times do you have to film the SAME thing?  are you an idiot?  We're TIRED!  You were likely more... diplomatic.  After that talk the end was near. 

And where is my pay?  I still haven't gotten it.  Evidently there were a few Union members there, but not we lowly extras.  Your union wants no more members.  Mine- NEA is a LOT friendlier.  No special meals, seats, etc. for us.  And btw, I THINK  the pay for an extra and a substitue teacher in this state is about the same- LOUSY. You'd think they'd pay subs a tad more, but...No-o-o-o-.

Then a half hour waiting to fill out my pay voucher (Union first) which I still have NOT yet rec'd (did I mention that?).

Another hour to get home- rush hour & all- lucky me going the opposite way most of the time.  I dragged myself to bed leaving a trail behind me- a shoe, another shoe, watch, etc.- still wearing my dress & with hair & make-up done (that was fun- I looked extremely elegant, if I do say so myself- and I do!)  My curly hair was pulled back so tightly in a French twist that it was instant face lift (this is NOT a complaint). 

Then- three days- Advil and PAIN.  Chiropractor.

When the casting company called later to hire me to continue the scene- NO!!! I'm now a SIT DOWN extra only!!! Thank you for calling.

So, Kevin, baby.  Get me on that other list.  Better yet, I'll be your stand-in.  Or your go-fer.  Yes, you & Robin had one.  Sigh.  

You owe me big time!  I'm waitin'.  Call me, hon.

I'll still strongly dislike you, but I'll take out some of the stuff I said.  Like the part that I think you were wearing a rug.  Maybe.  I don't know.  It depends on my mood.  If you ever think of killing the director, though, I'll testify as to justifiable homicide. 

BTW, did I mention I have NOT yet been paid for work 3-4 weeks ago.  So, dahhh-ling, you know where to find me.  The phone book for Cecil County will do it.  Under pissed off, where's my beef, or cross that one off the bucket list.  Too bad you are no longer a shoe salesman- revenge could be very sweet.  

Good actor, though.  Heck, I don't even have Netflix.

Hugs & kisses,

Eileen

YES, I meant to close my eyes.  

PS. Just rec'd my huge salary of $85.  Whooppee! Substitute teaching pays slightly less for a day. Still waiting to hear from Kevin

I

Good-bye, GM

Here is Michael Moore's take on the "new" GM. Moore's landmark documentary "Roger and Me'" warned of the unforseen, destructive consequences of the path GM & other Am. Corp. were taking. Like when you let all of us go to produce elsewhere, who the heck do you think is going to buy your product? When you put most of your efforts into short-term profits, what happenes to the long term? Henry Ford, after all, "got it" when he doubled his worker's pay & decreased working hours.

I drive a light truck Escalade. I really didn't want such a large vehicle, but I needed something. The feds in an effort to help GM offered generous tax credits for the purchase of this & other like vehicles. Alas, nothing for anything smaller or gas efficient. Uncle Sam in his wisdom, wanted me to buy this vehicle & rewarded me with tax incentives for doing so. Heck, my mother didn't raise any fools. Ahhh, short term profits. Who then anticipated a major gas shortage? Who cared?

Moore is proposing retooling car manufacturing plants to build a light rail system crossing the U.S. in five years. He also calls for a $2 tax on each gallon of gasoline to convince Americans to use rail and new, efficient busses. Read other suggestions- like tax incentives for those converting their homes to alternative energy sources.

Michael isn't the only one calling for a new, "green" economy. This week's "NOW" makes a strong case for a re-tooling of our industrial base. "...Environmental activist Van Jones, founder of "Green for All," an environmental group dedicated to bringing green jobs to the disadvantaged .... was was appointed as special advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Now that he has the President's ear, will Jones be creating a new career frontier for America?"

The curse of living in "interesting times."

Tech Jobs Seminar at Salve, Apr. 22

Media Contacts:
Meaghan Wims, mwims@duffyshanley.com, (401) 274-0001 ext. 434
Meghan O’Connor, moconnor@riedc.com, 401-278-9146

RI Nexus Heads to Aquidneck Island,
Continues its College Tour at Salve Regina University

What: RI Nexus College Tour
When: Wednesday, April 22, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Salve Regina University, O’Hare Academic Center, 100 Ochre Point Ave., Newport.
Who: RI Nexus Program Director and Providence Geeks Co-Founder Jack Templin hosts a discussion with undergraduates about information-technology and digital media job opportunities in Rhode Island.

What's the RI Nexus College Tour?

Through RI Nexus and its College Tour, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation aims to forge a deeper connection with Rhode Island’s college students, with a focus on retaining the students in the state after they graduate. The RI Nexus College Tour will encourage students interested in information-technology and digital media to remain in Rhode Island to fill high-paying, entry-level jobs in the sector and to use the resources offered through RI Nexus — such as the job and internship boards and company profiles — to further develop their talent and knowledge of the ITDM sector.

At each stop in the College Tour, RI Nexus Program Director Jack Templin will provide an overview of the state's burgeoning info-tech and digital media sector, show students how to use the tools and resources of the RI Nexus community, and lead an open discussion on the program.
This event is open to the public.

For more information please visit http://www.rinexus.com/

Job Fair March 19 AT CCRI

The Newport C of Commerce & the R.I. Hospitality & Tourism Assos. is holding a job fair for locals at CCRI on Thus., March 19 from 3-7 PM. It's going to feature seasonal, part & full time employment in the local area(defense, retail, office, hospitality). You can also apply for a fed'l job.

College Grads Often Jobless

Nothing new- just that the mainstream press is beginning to write on this. From author Barbara Ehrenreich's Blog: "[Jared] Bernstein [Economic Policy Institute] says, the wage gap between the college-educated and non-college-educated is beginning to narrow, and this not because the wages of the latter are rising." How many do you know who are under-employed or working at jobs that just pay crap? Not to mention being in the hole from college debt. Uh-oh, guess you're not related to anyone who counts. And this from an article in May of 06!


I'm not spreading this good news to my URI soph son. My mother didn't raise any fools. And him studying business to boot. Oh, well. No good trying to enter the job market now anyway.

Carcieri's Magical Mystery Budget

Tom Sgouros always says it far better than I. Repeatedly the Guv blames a Democratic Lege for budgets with any resulting problems while rewarding himself with backpats at the same time. The yearly balance he submits to the Lege for approval always has contained "creative" budgetry:

The structural deficit in Governor Carcieri's first budget was $24 million for
the first following year. In his second year the same number was $69 million,
then $99 million, $135 million, and $379 million, which is for next year.

It was then left up to the Lege to plug-in these holes. The Guv was then free to assail whatever they did when, in fact, he never actually balanced his own budgets. Ignored or forgotten in the onsuing polarized political discussion is that budgetary problems never has been solely a R.I. problem in good times or bad.

To totally turn a blind eye to what is increasingly becoming a nationwide problem is to miss the point; e.g., missing the forest for the trees. The almost total destruction of the societal safety net of use to everyone coupled with federal policies encouraging outsourcing resulting in the arterial bleeding of both skilled and non-skilled jobs is pushed aside. A once strong and vital middle class, along with the promise achievable hope that a better life was offered to everyone is teetering.


This once strong middle class ($40,000-$120,000, appx. 60% of population) didn't appear suddenly on the scene like Topsy who just "growed and growed." It was carefully nurtured through policies which redistributed wealth from the very top of the income strata. This was done beginning with FDR's New Deal policies after the depression and continued after WW II. This process wasn't advocated only by Liberal Democrats,but was considered mainstream and continued under Republicans Eisenhower & Nixon.


The rise of the state college/university (GI Bill & 1965 Higher Edc. Act.) bolstered with community colleges and "trade schools" with the attitude that more education is good for everyone, rises in the minimum wage, job and environmental protections, governmental sponsored mortgages which provided affordable high-quality home ownership, expanded public healthcare, expanded public infrastructure and a strong union movement (profit-sharing, penions, healthcare) proved to be good for almost everyone. Federal legislation also expanded the middle class to non-whites & women by ensuring fairness of opportunity & income. The economy expanded and unlike today's unprecedented expansion, proved that, in fact, a rising tide did raise all boats.


To even further erode the safety net which one was welcoming to all who needed it (as the Eurpoeans still provide) and to totally ignore any formalized process for job expansion remind me of the ostrich burying its head in the sand. The Guv has abdicated his role of even attempting to improve everyone's life with firings, increased and expanded fees, while crossing his fingers that Union membership will asssist him to accomplish their own blood-letting. While suddenly divorcing himself from any gambling discussion (like expansion of hours), he's leaving it up to the Democratic-controllege Lege to clean up his mess while providing himself with plenty of elbow room to increase his finger-pointing ability.


A responsible budget would not demonize certain groups- immigrants, the poor, and unionized state workers. The current budget solution is a program designed, not only on the state level but a national one, to enable the rest of us, even encourage us, to blame these groups for our woes. A responsible budget would have a plan/process to expand our economy from the bottom up, rather than the top down. A responsible budget would spread any cuts to be made from the top down.

A responsible budget would:

1. Increase/maintain access to health care.

2. Increase/maintain affordable housing

3. decrease personal debt- we need to restore some of those old usury laws.

4. (From Projo's John Kostrzewa) Make Providence the hub of a cluster of collaborations among the state’s universities, hospitals and innovative companies to research developing technologies that will create start-up companies and jobs.

5. Focus on life sciences, the industry that is expanding with new products, drugs and services to sell to an aging U.S. population (hello, URI). Again, thanks to John K.

6. research continued development at Quonset & renewable energy project (utilize URI again)

7. Focus on developing/expanding alternative forms of energy (whatever happened to solar?)

The candidate who acknowledges this [middle class anxiety] and comes up with ways not just to stimulate the economy but also to boost wages - through, say, a more progressive tax, stronger unions and, over the longer term, better schools for children from lower-income families and better access to higher education - will have a good chance of winning over America's large, and increasingly anxious, voters.
(Robert Reich)

Employ a Kid!

Child & Family offers their new "Youth Opportunities Center Program." They will assist you (free!) in finding a 14-21 employee. They also offer these youth support services for at least a year.

Call Landa Patterson (Middletown), 845-8936.

Job coaches: Allison Agnello, Myles Winter, & Carrie Brady (Florence Gray Ctr., Newport 380-2060)

Gov. Cacieri wants to be our Education Governor

This always worries me. Whenever any politician says this it usually means bad news for schools. More programs, more rules & regs, less of what is really needed. He wants to concentrate on urban education.

Below the Projo headlines there is also a major article on, "R.I. exodus: Losing the young, ambitious." We are one of only four states (inc. La.) losing population. The Census Bureau says that for the third consecutive year we are losing young college grads. There are few jobs & little housing that they can afford. Hello, Guv, welcome to my world that my family lives in.

So what are we educating these urban youngsters for - more low paying service jobs? What I'd like to know is, is this an example of an oxymoron or just plain irony? Antonym perhaps?

The only Guv I ever saw actually improve education was when DiPrete put computers in all the school libraries. The rest of my time I saw level-funding with a lot more regs but little to actually fund them.