Planning A Trip To The Walt Disney Company's Shareholder Meeting!

I have been a shareholder in The Walt Disney Company for 24 years. I love that company- I worked for them twice, for a grand total of 5 years. Why do I like them so much? I don't know. But I do know that I love Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Disneyland, Lilo and Stitch, Pinocchio and Pirates of the Caribbean. One thing that is available to all shareholders of Disney, but which most shareholders of Disney probably never do (although it sometimes seems like they ALL do) is to attend the shareholder meetings. The last one that I remember going to many years ago (1997, I think) was really interesting, because Warren Buffet was there (he used to be a large shareholder) and there was open debate about approving Michael Eisner's new compensation package. It was very contentious, but Mr. Eisner's new package was approved. I haven't been back to a meeting since that one, although I've been meaning to.

Recently I found out that they're having their shareholder meeting in Oakland, California this year. Boy, that's not too far! I think I'll go! What I've done is this: I bought a ticket on Amtrak, and I"ll go up there the day before, get a hotel that night, and then get up early in the morning, have a good breakfast and go and enjoy the meeting.

What's so good about the meeting? Well, they tell you all the new and exciting things that are in store for the Company. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy were there at all the meetings that I'd been to in the past, and I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be this time. Steve Jobs, who's Disney's largest shareholder and sits on Disney's Board of Directors, might be there, despite the fact that he's recovering from an illness. One thing that I'm anxious to find out, and something that will be revealed at the meeting, is the significance of this question: "Are you 23?"


It has really been a long time since I went to a meeting, but Disney seems to be doing well despite a challenging economy, and I want to get excited about what they've got in store for the future.

The Banana Splits: We're the Banana Splits

Another haunting song from this TV show. Boy, this sure captures the spirit of the '60s.

The Banana Splits: I Enjoy Being A Boy

I like this song, but in this video, they did cut the song short. To watch the TV show you wouldn't know it, but I actually have this song on a special edition CD. It's still cool, though.

The Banana Splits: You're The Lovin' End

One of my favorite songs from "The Banana Splits", a TV show that I used to watch when I was a small child in the '60's.

Stimulus Package: Where's the Relief From Credit Card Companies?

The stimulus bill creates new jobs, sure. It gives some breaks to people who want to buy a home (people who have money, that is). One thing is vitally missing from it, though: some kind of a tax break on interest paid to consumer credit cards, or some kind of law to restrain the credit card companies from jacking up interest on people. Or to prohibit those companies from randomly installing monthly fees that never existed before. It is crazy what some card companies are doing. Chase is doing it to me! I was surprised, after transferring balances at their behest, that they would stoop so low. And, they got a federal bailout, too, with tax dollars. It sucks, man. Give the people what they really need: relief from credit card company bullying, unfair practices and general tackiness!

Michael Phelps and Pot Smoking

So, Michael Phelps was photographed at a party in South Carolina smoking Marijuana from a big Bong. How old is Michael Phelps? He's a little square, right? I mean, he's disciplined, he's excelled at something- he was number 1! He worked hard, he got there. He sacrificed a lot.

Now that Michael Phelps has won all his medals, he should maybe take a break from the press and the limelight, right? Maybe chill out at a party with some friends, and maybe participate in some fun with some peers. Just be a normal Joe, and have fun among friends. Right?

Well, some punk ass bitch took a picture of him smoking some pot, and circulated it for their own profit, and at his expense. To me, that's really f**cked up. However, the fact remains that he smoked pot.

I say, so what? I smoked pot a couple of times when I was in college at UCLA. When I was in high school I never tried it, but I knew a lot of people who did. Frequently.

What's the harm in trying a little marijuana? Yes, it's illegal, but so many crazy, wrong things are legal (like the interest rates that credit card companies are allowed to charge) that, in my opinion, just because it's illegal doesn't mean that it's bad for you or wrong. Bill Clinton smoked pot. Hell, George W. Bush used cocaine and got drunk. All you people need to remember that Michael Phelps is a real person, and I like him all the more better for smoking pot- he's living his life, and (I hope) loving it. So what if Kellogg's chooses not to renew his contract? If I ever produce a movie and he's interested, I would love to have Michael Phelps in my movie!

Etta James Said What About Beyonce?

I love Etta James' song, "At Last". The first time that I had ever heard it was on the soundtrack for the movie, "Rain Man", and I've loved it ever since.

That being said, I fell in love with Beyonce (from afar) around the time when the album, "Survivor" came out from Destiny's Child. As I've learned more about her, I've loved her more and more. I think that she's a great singer and performer, and she has class.

Now, that being said, I think that Etta James showed her ass by making bad comments about Beyonce singing her song at the Inauguration of the President. Why couldn't she be happy for Beyonce? If anything, Etta James, be mad at Barack Obama for not inviting you to the party, but don't hate on Beyonce. Hell, by singing the song, she's promoting a movie about YOU, so get over yourself already!

UB40 Sing Our Own Song

This is UB40 singing, "Sing Our Own Song" from 1986. I remember seeing UB40 at The Palace in Hollywood, CA back in 1986, with the same band members and background singers seen here in this video. I met then 16-year-old Ziggy Marley at Capitol Records right across the street from The Palace later on that same night.