There are people who don't have to worry about social security drying up as the baby boomers are retiring, such as the Bush family or gangsters turned rap "bling bling" superstars.

You just need to offer a little ole fashioned repentance, a few lessons in rapping, hire a "powerballin" producer and you'll be "bling bling" set.

Take for example, rap star 50 Cent, in the next few months he'll be appearing in animated form on an episode of The Simpsons, launching new designs of his footwear line, starting his own series of bling-heavy watches, endorsing Formula 50 Vitamin Water and preparing to star in a movie about himself called 'Locked and Loaded'.

'Locked and Loaded will be directed by Irish filmmaker, Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, In America). Terrence Winter, executive producer of the Sopranos, is writing the screenplay.

So 50 is only 26 years old, it seems a bit odd they are already making a film about him. I suppose we should expect a lifetime of sequels.

All kidding aside, making a film about a gangster rapper using the hard core writing of a Sopranos guy and the sensitivity of Jim Sheridan...seems like a brilliant way to promote yourself to the masses.

I'm looking forward to seeing the likes of Jim Sheridan and the golden touch of 50 Cent.

Well, hats off to ya 50 Cent...better yet...50 mill.

To The Reel Roundtable,

I am on your mailing list and was wondering whether
it would be possible to distribute this. The Lawyers Guild
would really apprciate it.

Thanks,
Eileen
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DO YOU HAVE A VIDEO CAMERA?

DO YOU PLAN TO BE AT RNC PROTESTS?

THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The RNC Mass Defense Committee of the NYC Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild is recruiting and training hundreds of volunteer lawyers, law students, and legal workers to be Legal Observers (identified by neon green hats) to be in the streets during the RNC protests to document any arrests or police misconduct.

Videotapes of police actions at protests can be crucial evidence at later trials of people arrested and for subsequent civil lawsuits for police misconduct, as was dramatically shown in the wake of the FTAA protests in Miami last November.

The NLG would like to meet with video makers to share ideas and to invite anyone who may be interested in working with a team of Legal Observers.

Contact:

Bruce Bentley, RNC Mass Defense Coordinator
National Lawyers Guild, New York City Chapter
(212) 679-6018 x 16
nycmassdefense@riseup.net

For more information - http://www.nlgnyc.org/RNC.html

Like Joe Strummer sang "Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble and if I stay it will be double."

hmmm, let's weigh the options...

- The thought of this city hosting 5,000 Republican delegates for the four day convention gives me the heebie jeebies.

on the other hand

- The heat is getting turned up to unthinkable levels and an estimated 250,000 people are planning to protest, that visual is pretty thrilling. It's history in the making.

Groups who have already received permits to demonstrate include Planned Parenthood, People for the American Way, Code Pink: Women for Peace, the Middle East Peace Coalition and the New York City Central Labor Council.

The NYPD and FDNY will also be a demonstrating and demanding higher wages.

Many demonstrations are being organized through websites, daily email newsletters and weekly meetings.

RNC Not Welcome - http://www.rncnotwelcome.org

Billionaires For Bush - http://billionairesforbush.com

Counter Convention - http://www.counterconvention.org

The largest demonstration planned will be the anti-war protest hosted by United for Peace and Justice. The anti-war march is taking place on Sunday August 29th, the day before the convention begins. They have submitted five separate proposals for rally sites; three in Central Park, Times Square or Third Avenue. Our Republican Mayor, the one who donated $5 million dollars to the Republican National Convention, has turned down each of the proposals.

United for Peace and Justice - http://www.unitedforpeace.org

Although the police are supporting the rally and have agreed to allow the rally march past Madison Square Garden where the convention is taking place. Speaking of Madison Square Garden, when I was there for the awesome Prince concert last night, it was hard to miss the new three-story high Fox News Channel advertisement outside the Garden. It's so creepy.

As for the police and the protestors, The New York Civil Liberties Union is hosting classes for protestors? Their classes are teaching which types of protests are legal and what one should do if they are arrested (it's getting hot in here).

Wait, what was my question again?

In case one might be interested in what the right-winged party animals are up to and who will be amongst them. Republican National Convention - http://www.gopconvention.com
And I'm so proud of our gracious politicians in New York, both current and former, they have given the delegates suggestions for restaurants, ideas for sight seeing and basic NYC tips. They are just...oh so kind.

Republican Good Times - http://www.gopconvention.com/contents/delegates/top10/

Check out this excellent fast & kinetic video regarding How Bush Won.
url: Eric Blumrich - http://www.ericblumrich.com/gta.html

also

Eric's website is full of political and satirical images, animation, wallpaper and more. url: Eric Blumrich - http://www.ericblumrich.com

also

Dorian Devins interviewed Mark Akbar and Joel Bacon, the director and the writer of The Corporation on WFMU today. If you missed the live broadcast, it's archived on url: WFMU - http://www.wfmu.org.

So, thousands of people were lined up in Midtown today to meet the former President Bill Clinton, buy his memoir "My Life" and have their book signed.

I read that the former president's memoir has a first printing of 1.5 million, advance orders have already topped 2 million and even though the official release is today, it's been near the top of Amazon.com's best-seller list for the past month.

According to the Associated Press, both Borders and Barnes & Noble stayed open past midnight last night in order to sell the book.

A roundabout way to say "in your face Ken Starr" and "any thoughts Congress?"

In all seriousness, aside from the book critics, has anyone finished the memoir yet? Any feedback on Bill's bio?

Inquiring minds want to know!

After listening to so many conversations that end with someone saying "I'll have to put that on my Netflix list", I realized that I have been in Netflix denial. I knew Netflix was a website and its' focus was DVDs, but I never took the time to know the details. After much hesitance, I made the decision to check out this Netflix site and see what exactly is causing this bizarre DVD frenzy.

Went to Netfix,com, blah, blah, blah, $19.95 a month, three DVDs, no late fees....okay, okay I have to admit, I'm impressed. But why the denial? Am I afraid that I'll enjoy this Netflix business? If I were to participate in this Netflix biz, then that would consist of spending even more time on my computer in order to read through yet another program of films, staying home to watch movies and falling behind on my "books to read" list. I realize that this is not an either/ or situation, one can subscribe to Netflix AND go to the movies. But do they?? (excluding the Passion of the Christ audience)

According to Wall Street, Netflix's stock was up 250% this year and Netflix's market value is worth over $2 billion dollars.

Netflix has a catalog of over 18,000 movies and it's definitely a better choice than Blockbuster...but then again, any choice is better than Blockbuster. So, the positive side of this Netflix is that it offers their members an opportunity to continue their interest in watching a wide selection of movies, not to mention, no worries about late fees or commercial interruptions.

So, why would people choose to go to the movies when there are three movies waiting for them at home which have already been chosen and paid for??
Well, I suppose one could ask that same question when referring to either restaurants and Fresh Direct or concerts and downloading mp3s.

What it boils down to is that Netflix is the crack addiction of the movie industry. Netflix sends you movies, gets you hooked and then continues to send DVDs. The DVDs are there and always available, just waiting to be watched.

Is the addiction worth it?