Craig's Corner

Driving through Beverly Hills the other day a sign caught my attention. In the visually cluttered metropolis of Los Angeles, that a sign was noticeable is interesting in and of itself. That the sign was from a gas station is even more surprising. That it listed gas at $5.05 per gallon was shocking. This station is in the heart of Beverly Hills, attendants help fill the tank and it was for premium grade. Regular was a bargain at $4.99. It got me to thinking about Michelle Bachman’s promise that if elected she’d bring back $2 gas. Democrats and comics had a field day. The idea that the President could impact gasoline prices is just preposterous! Right? Don’t tell that to President Ford who created the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 1975 as a response to the 1973 oil crisis. President Clinton stopped stocking the reserve in 1995, redirecting the funds to other energy projects. President George W Bush (#43) was the first President to tap the Reserve in 2001 as way to “provide e...

Stupidity sells a lot of tickets to the movies. It is the basis of many fiction and non shows on television. It’s a treasured tool in the blogger arsenal. Many websites ( http://www.idiotlaws.com/ , http://www.dumblaws.com/ , http://www.stupidlaws.com/ ) exist that document the most egregious laws. In Fresno, CA it’s illegal if you’re a midget to dress like a lephercaun. (St. Patrick’s Day in Fresno must suck!)  In Bethany Missouri, it is illegal for any black men to wear skirts while driving a truck. (I guess it's OK while driving a car or a motorcycle?) California’s Legislature is the highest paid in the country.  The state is one of the largest, so it’s not terribly surprising. What do we get for that? For 2011  the legislators convened January 3rd and recessed for the year September 9th. In between there were another 45 work days off for various holidays and recesses. It’s nearly 6 months out of the year that the legislature isn’t in session. ...

It’s the most exciting time of the year! The new television season kicks off next week. As a kid I would collect each year’s TV Guide Fall Preview Issue. As an adult the DVR is programmed and I’ll sample most of the new shows and get caught up with old favorites. Today’s media environment allows for year-round programming, so some of the anticipation is reduced since viewers haven’t been abandoned for months as in decades past. One of this year’s most promoted shows is a fresh take on the 1970’s runway hit “Charlie’s Angels.” The current version promises more action and complex crime fighting than the original. It may prove to be the perfect escapist quasi-procedural that satisfies the masses. More than likely it’ll wind up like last year’s resurrection: “Hawaii 5-0.” “5-0” is eminently watchable, highly produced and totally tedious because it was built on the concept of a show rather than the characters and storylines. It may be new, but it feels old and tiresome. This new se...

The attacks of September 11, 2001 are etched in our memories. As the world marks a decade since that fateful morning, media outlets overflow with remembrances. Documentaries chronicle the intervening years from nearly every point of view. Months after the attacks my production company tried to put “Created Equal?” together, but it never happened. The treatment is eerie in how relevant the issues remain 10 years later. The tragic events of 9-11 were a wakeup call for the world. We were forced to acknowledge our vulnerability; and we shared our pain. We mourned together for those lost; and we longed for the sense of security and unity that we once felt as a nation and a world. Despite our race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or socio-economic status, we all share the impact of 9-11.   It is in this moment of unity that an opportunity exists to highlight the inequalities that gay Americans face daily, in our nation. Acclaimed and award winning filmmakers will tell ...

Labor Day is this weekend. For most it marks the end of summer, though that officially doesn’t happen until September 23. Fashion experts have proclaimed white is deriguer until Memorial Day. The holiday became a national observance in 1894 when President Cleveland signed Congress’s unanimous legislation at the end of the violent Pullman Strike . Parades, celebrations and political rallies are traditions in many U.S. communities. Missing from all of the festivities are the 25 million Americans who are out of work. Unemployment statistics are notoriously inaccurate. The methodology changes regularly – with the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishing a 19-page guide  detailing the history and changes in calculation processes. The Federal Government currently tracks unemployment based on those who are eligible for benefits rather than on whether somebody is working or not. The maximum number of weeks an individual may receive benefits depends by state with the longest being 99 weeks....