"Bad Santa 2" Trailer is out!

I just found out a minute ago that there is a sequel to Billy Bob Thornton's movie, "Bad Santa", and I've got it here: "Bad Santa 2".  It looks like Billy Bob's character and his adopted son have not moved up at all in society, after a few years have passed.

"Bad Santa 2" Trailer is out!

I just found out a minute ago that there is a sequel to Billy Bob Thornton's movie, "Bad Santa", and I've got it here: "Bad Santa 2".  It looks like Billy Bob's character and his adopted son have not moved up at all in society, after a few years have passed.

Dreamworks Animation Stock is up a lot since I blogged about it in February!

Well since the last time I blogged on this blog (way back in February), Dreamworks Animation's stock price has gone way up- majorly.  I was saying that maybe Disney should buy it- but it's a lot more expensive now!  YOU should've bought some!  I did go ahead and buy some for a relative whose investment portfolio I manage- and I hope that she's grateful!

Anyway, I am so tired of politics that I don't think that I'll blog about it much anymore.  Besides, most people know how to think for themselves on that topic.  I also think that for the most part people can see and recognize idiots.  And people know when they themselves are lying, when they are burying their own heads in the sand, and someone if full of shit.  So I'm not about trying to convince anyone of anything like that anymore. Count me out.

I will, however, make up characters and tell stories of folks who might find themselves in moral dilemmas.  That's interesting always- to create these scenarios for others to chew on. I myself cannot wait until I complete a private project that I am almost done with, so that I can begin writing screenplays.  I have lots of inspiration around me here in Los Angeles- I always meet spectacularly talented screenwriters!  Most are friendly and helpful to the aspiring screenwriter. I hope to take advantage of their gifts of advice.

Anyway,  it is late and I am sleepy.  I am going to bed now!

How Apple Should Or Could Invest Its Cash - Buy Dreamworks Animation!

Apple Inc., the gigantic computer maker and inventor of the iPhone and iPad, along with the iMac, has about $137 billion in cash, due to its tremendous success in sales of its products and management of its assets. One huge asset that Apple can boast about that most other companies cannot: that it has over a billion dollars in cash. In fact, Apple has over 137 billion dollars.

Apple has recently been rocked with a falling stock price, in some part due to a perceived (or imagined and much hyped) decline in the popularity of its products. Shareholders, which include most large institutional shareholders, have taken notice, and many armchair stock gurus have  jumped in with their prescriptions for what can turn Apple around. I do not agree with most of the things that I hear, but I think that it is good that Apple is going through this kind of thing right now: good for investors, and good for Apple. It's good for investors who have cash, because at this price level and given its fundamentals, people would have to be idiots to buy almost any other stock. Cash is still King, after all. It also presents Apple with the opportunity to buy more shares in its buyback program, which it is doing.

Recently one prominent Apple investor filed a lawsuit against Apple to force it to do something with its cash besides banking it. This is also good for shareholders. It has been suggested that Apple use its cash to buy a complimentary company. One name that has been bandied about often in the media today as a great buy for Apple is Netflix. After all, Netflix is on every smart phone, computer, tablet designer and gaming console's mind when they design their new products. Netflix has such a great user interface that, in my opinion, no other carrier could duplicate the quality without some kind of infringement (although lately big companies seem to get away with infringement- look at what Samsung did to Apple). Netflix does have huge name-brand recognition, and they provide a service which, in my opinion, is a huge value for the $7.99 per month that one pays for streaming video. A month ago, Netflix would have been the best investment in the world for anyone (since their stock price doubled since then, based on earnings of $9 million and a report of a growth in subscribers). One of Netflix's competitors, Hulu, is so desperate that they have matched Netflix's price for Hulu Plus, and you cannot even go to Hulu's website on a tablet now without immediately being redirected to sign up for Hulu Plus (without even being able to peruse some sample titles). Netflix currently has a market value of just under 10 billion dollars at today's stock valuation, so Apple could definitely afford to make a move. I imagine that an offer of at least 30 percent over the current market price of the stock would be accepted. In addition to its great technology, Netflix is also a movie and television production company. Netflix might be a great investment for Apple, but it might not be a must-buy. There are other great companies that Apple could buy. For example, Disney has a market cap of under $100 billion, and Apple could buy that, too if it wanted (or they could merge the companies). Apple has the cash, and he with the cash has options.

Another company that I see as a great purchase opportunity for Apple (or for Disney) is Dreamworks Animation. It has a market valuation of under $2 billion, has long-term debt of only $200 million, has $137 million in cash, is profitable, has several of the highest-grossing movies of all-time, has recognizable characters, including Shrek, and, like Pixar, has a proven track-record of making great, profitable animated films (I heard that Rise of the Guardians lost money for the Company, but I also heard that it is one of the best movies from last year that I have not seen).

I have heard that the founders of the company, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg, are still major shareholders in the company and that despite the stock being a public company, they together still control 70 percent of the company's voting, and any deal would have to be approved by both of them.  Last year Dreamworks Animation acquired Classic Media Inc., which owns the rights to several classic television cartoons, including Rocky and Bullwinkle.  I was at Costco yesterday and noticed that Classic Media just released the old Jackson 5 TV series on Blue Ray, and it was on sale there for $22.00.  I almost bought it!  Dreamworks Animation has plans for the future, including building a theme park in China.

Dreamworks Animation has fallen out of favor with Wall Street it seems.  People who owned it when I was looking at it at $30 per share who have held onto it must really hate it now that it dipped below $16 a share today.  However, to some fresh, unbiased eyes, this company looks like it could be ripe pickings for either Disney or Apple.  Disney is headquartered in Burbank, CA, but has holdings in nearby Glendale, where Dreamworks is located.  Disney right now distributes films for Dreamworks Pictures.  Bob Iger, Disney's chairman (who also sits on the board of Apple) likes to buy attractive deals for low money- Iger could buy this company for less than what he paid for the Star Wars franchise and for half of what he paid for Pixar).  Apple could even do a joint venture with Disney on this one, with each buying a stake in Dreamworks.  NBC Universal ( a division of Comcast Corp) uses some of the Dreamworks characters in its theme park attractions in Hollywood and Orlando, and could also benefit from purchasing Dreamworks.  It's a slam-dunk, no-brainer at the current price.   You watch, somebody's going to make a bid for this company soon!  Any of these 3 companies that I have mentioned could buy Dreamwork Animation, but Apple might have the easiest time of it.

For Apple, buying Dreamworks Animation (or at least investing in them) would definitely shut up (at least temporarily) some of Apple's critics. I cannot see a downside to it (other than it might mess up its relationship with Disney, which has a value all its own).  The bottom line, Apple could buy any of the other companies that I have mentioned here if they really wanted to, but perhaps these very smart folks in Cupertino, CA have some secret plans that none of us can figure out- a clear path that will cause all jaws to drop when revealed,  part of a hand that Steve Jobs and his inner circle have never shared with anyone before, and maybe all that cash is needed for that purpose.  We will see......

Idiot Reporter Interrupts President Obama Today

Today while President Obama was making a speech at the White House regarding a new immigration policy which I believe he is calling the "Dream Act", a reporter started shouting a question at him while interrupting the speech. The President asked the reporter to not interrupt him. What nerve some of these fools have nowadays! To interrupt the President during a speech is unheard of. It really shows that people today are really crazy! It does not matter whether you agree with Obama's policies- people have to show respect! That is the problem with society today in America (and maybe in the whole world)- some people think that they can just do what they want, when they want. It's not just reporters and politicians, either- you can see it everywhere- from people who cross the street whether or not there is a crosswalk to people who curse in their conversation irregardless of the children and women standing next to them in the grocery store. People are crazy! Sometimes I wish that I could slap some sense into some of these fools!

One Big Thing Wrong With The Economy

One huge thing wrong with the U.S. economy right now is that the tax rate charged by the U.S. government is too low, and has been since George W. Bush lowered taxes right after he was elected. Back in 2000 when Bush lowered taxes, my income was about $50,000 for the previous year. After Bush enacted those tax cuts, I got roughly $200 in a tax refund due to the cuts. Rich people, those making millions, got back much more, because the cuts were larger for them.

for my money, the government could have just kept that money. Ihe government had a surplus when Bill Clinton left office, and I didn't need that money. President Bush back then encouraged people to go out and spend that money, in an effort to stimulate the economy.

The following year, America declared war on Iraq. Instead of selling war bonds or raising taxes back to what they were under Clinton, taxes stayed low. The government was underfunded. This has continued up to now, because Obama did not allow the Bush tax cuts to expire when he had the chance.

I believe that Some areas where money is bleeding from the U.S. government need to be cut. Unemployment benefits need to be cut back.

Medicare payouts need to be much more closely restricted. I think that any and all payments to anyone through Medicare need to be made only after the Medicare recipients complete a notarized form which is sent to them directly from Medicare where they approve of the charges and certify that the benefits are legitimate and approved by them. These statements need to be audited randomly my the Medicare administration. No payments should ever be made through Medicare without this form. The form could be signed by the Medicare beneficiary or by that person's court-approved Conservator of the Person or similar person with medical Power of Attorney.

That is what I think. There are many areas of government that need reeling in. I believe that more crooks are making money from government abuses than people in genuine need. We need to stop it.

The Best Gift For Christmas? A iPad!

I have discovered that the best gift that you can get anyone over 18 for Christmas is an iPad! if you have elderly parents, I believe that it is the best gift. Why? Well, you can load it with pictures that you know your parents will enjoy. You can also load it with the music that you parents like. You can show them how easy it is to use. They can read books(many are free) and they can entertain themselves with YouTube. they can also take pictures!


So I highly recommend the iPad by Apple as the number one choice for a Christmas gift.

My Favorite New Show: "Revenge" on ABC

My favorite new television show this season is "Revenge" on the ABC Television Network. This show was created by Mike Kelley. Why do I like this show? Because: the writing is excellent. The villains are crafty, nasty and mostly beautiful. It takes place in the Hamptons- a lush setting. The story is simple- a woman is getting revenge against all the people in town who helped to destroy her father (and therefore helped to ruin her life).

The acting in this show is really great, too. One of the most beautiful women that I ever have seen, Madeline Stowe, also stars on the show as the main woman to whom the revenge is being directed.

This show is a must-see! Visit abc.com to instantly watch episodes of this show!

An Inspirational Dinner With The President

These 4 people donated to President Barack Obama's current campaign for President, and won a chance to have an intimate dinner with him! This seems like the chance of a lifetime. From the video, you can tell that Mr. Obama is always down-to-earth. I am glad that he is doing these dinners with contributors. He's the real deal- I believe that he really cares about people!

Progressive Insurance's New Mobile App- With Flo

This video shows Flo from Progressive Insurance, telling us about Progressive's new app that you can use for getting insurance for your auto. You can acutally scan the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and get a quote- how cool is that?

Justin Bieber Says That The U.S. Healthcare System Is "Evil"

In an article in Rolling Stone Magazine earlier this year, Justin Bieber said that the U.S. Healthcare System is evil, because it is so expensive, and leaves people poor if they get sick or need medical care. Please click here to read the article from Huffington Post.

Post Office Secretly Gutted by Bush and Republicans

Yesterday I saw a commercial on CNN where it said that the United States Postal Service is making enough money, but due to a law passed in 2006, the USPS has to fund 75 years worth of pensions, even though they pensions at the post office were already fully-funded. The crazy thing is that the law makes them fund 75 years worth of pensions in 10 years- pensions for people who aren't even born yet! It makes no sense, but it is this money that is going to fund the pensions in this law that are making the Postal Service look like it is not making enough money. This law needs to be repealed. The Republicans know that the Democrats have introduced legislation to repeal the law, so they have proposed their own law to overhaul the USPS, even though it really does not need it. The Republicans ultimately want to break the Postal Union, pay lower wages, and force the USPS to sell real estate, and ultimately privatize it and not have it operate as the system we know today. Think about it- if Fed Ex or UPS buys it, less competition, right? It is amazing that the rich have convinced people to give up on pensions.

Look at this You Tube video from DemocracyNow.org, which shows a debate between debate between Chuck Zlatkin, the Legislative and Political Director of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, and Gene Del Polito, President of the Association for Postal Commerce (a lobbying organization) in Washington, D.C.

I Hoped That It Would Never Come To This, But....Now Accepting Donations. Please Pay It Forward- If You Can...

Hey folks. I have not written in this blog for a while, but now I'm in Mississippi visiting my relatives, and I am scared. Why, you may ask? Well, for one, I finished doing my taxes a few days ago and discovered that I owe the Federal Government about $2,900, and I owe the State of California about $540. What am I going to do? Right now that I am in Mississippi with my Mom and my uncle, I cannot do much. I have received a few Notary calls today, but there was nothing that I could do while I'm here. I am also scheduled to go to Houston, Texas next week to visit my other uncle. I am so low on cash that it is ridiculous. I don't know what I am going to do. One thing that I just did was to install the "Donate" button on the right, and hope that people will "Pay it Forward" and give me some kind of small donation that I can use to help get me out of this tight spot. I don't expect to get enough to pay the taxes, but some spending change for while I am here in Mississippi would be nice.


It is cold tonight in Jackson, Mississippi. The news says that it is about 36 degrees outside. I am having fun visiting my great aunt and my cousins, and I am trying not to worry about my money. Today I complained to nobody about my money- that was a decision that I made last night. I am considering ending my trip and coming home early, although that might upset my Mom (although she and my uncle won't come home early), and I am considering canceling the trip to Houston. I don't want to do it, but I really don't want to have the Feds on my back, and the State on me, and have crumbling credit. Business has been kind of bad lately....

Well, I Called Chase Credit Cards, And...

I called the Chase credit card customer service, and asked them why my APR is so high. They told me that last year in June I was late for a payment. I remember, I was late- about 2 days late- I forgot. They told me that my interest rate went from 20.04% for purchases to 29.99% for purchases. I asked them why I had the worst rate, and the guy told me that it was not the worst rate- it could have been something like 31%. What's the difference? I told him that I was getting screwed at the current rate. He said that it was almost time for my account to be reviewed automatically, and that I would automatically get a lower rate or it would stay the same. That really wasn't what I want to hear. I'm gonna call them again and ask for a supervisor next time....

Thoughts For July

One big thing that I need to do this month is to call Chase credit card company. They are charging me crazy interest rates on a portion of my debt, and it makes no sense to me, since I'm such a good customer and as far as I know I haven't been late on a payment. If they don't cooperate with me, I might have ta diss them on the internet.

OK, enough for tonight. I bees tired.

Big Changes Coming

I plan to make some big changes soon. No, I'm not moving. I could be changing jobs. I'm going to start auditioning for Acting jobs. I don't care if it's stage, television, workshop or a video that I write and shoot- I'm going to start being involved in produced art, and I'm going to do it now! Look out, because I'm serious. I've already started working on my body- I've gone to Gold's Gym in Hollywood for 3 nights in a row now, and climbed on that treadmill and worked off 200 calories. It might not seem a lot to some people (and it's not a lot compared to what some people there do in the gym), but for me, a middle-aged person who's about 30 pounds overweight, it's a major accomplishment compared to what I've done over the past 10 years in the area of fitness.

The truth is, I realize, when you are in Hollywood, you should do your damn best to look good- your personal best. I'm not going to worry about it, but I figure that I will perform better artistically if I'm in better shape. Makes sense, right?

Anyway, first thing for me is to start perusing craigslist. Gotta enroll in Backstage West, Actors Access, and one more place that my friends told me about but I can't remember now. I also know that I've got to get reconnected to my Acting buddies. I'm jumping in, starting NOW!

James Franco and Anne Hathaway Give Great Performances as Oscars Hosts

In my opinion, James Franco and Anne Hathaway were outstanding Oscars hosts. They were nice to look at, entertaining, funny at times, and gave it their best, in my opinion. I hate it when people say negative things about folks who are positive and give it their best. Anne Hathaway was SO funny, and she looked stunning, and she was full of energy. James Franco, while looking a little sleepy (maybe from all that studying he does), looked hot as Marilyn Monroe in his red dress- wowza- it took some balls to come out dressed like that, so I give respect to the man!

I would like to proclaim here and now that James Franco is one of my favorite Actors and people in general. Anne Hathaway is also one of my favorite Actresses and also people in general, and I realize this because they gave it their best at the Oscars, and I hope one day to meet them and tell them this personally.

More sleep will make you more healthy

Researchers says that getting more sleep each night will make you healthier and happier. This seems logical, since I know that when I don't get enough sleep I tend to be slower and wish that I could go back to bed and get more sleep.

People who get more sleep are said to heal faster, think more clearly and have less stress. People who exercise regularly find it more easy to fall asleep, and tend to sleep longer.

I'm getting sleepy now, so it's time for bed.

Watching "Oprah" Tonight

I wasn't going to watch TV tonight- Saturday night, but at the last minute I decided to turn on the TV and watch "Saturday Night Live". When I turned on the TV it was on KABC-TV Channel 7 in Los Angeles, and I was going to turn to channel 4, but when I turned on the TV I saw Oprah, and realized shortly after that it was the show where Oprah is discussing discovering her long-lost sister that she never knew that she had, Patricia.

This particular Oprah show is so powerful- probably the most powerful Oprah show that I've ever seen- because you can really feel the desire of this woman Patricia to discover her real Mom and her real family- without realizing until later that Oprah was part of her family.

Patricia tries to contact her birth mother, but her birth mother refuses to see her or talk to her. Patricia reaches out to her deceased sister's daughter, and they take a DNA test and discover that there's an 85% match- so they are related.

What's great about this show is that Oprah's family's reaction to realizing that Patricia was the family member that they never knew they had- and that she resembled Oprah's deceased sister, Pat, so much.

Also heartening is the fact that Oprah is fighting back tears during this whole show. It's an amazing show, and if they give Emmys for great television, then Oprah should get one for this show, because I'll never forget this episode. Talk about family secrets- it's got every bit of the drama that I've seen in movies like "The Color Purple" or "Beloved". It's one of those shows that'll make you go, "Wow!" Amazing.


I hope that Oprah will do more specials and other shows featuring herself on her new network (OWN) once "The Oprah Winfrey Show" comes to an end.

Going Through The Mail

Mail is so interesting. I got a letter from a Natural History Museum in New York that says that they miss me and want me back. I have never been a member!

RCI is asking me to deposit my vacation weeks. Not right now, thank you.

MDA wants money. Sorry, my money is at an all-time low.


Chase wants me to open a checking and saving account, and they will give me $125. No thank you, I like my credit union.

Disney Movie Club has movies. Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue. I will go online and decline.

I got something from the Claims Administrator regarding Apple Inc. Securities Litigation. I know that I don't have much Apple Inc. stock- maybe one share. A valuable share, though. I'll read this litigation stuff later.

Food and Wine gift from American Express- no thank you.

Democratic National Committee: no, I'm not in the mood. No money either. Ok, well I read it. Maybe I'll renew with $5 or so soon.

The Economist Magazine. Good deal. I need money.

VISA card application. NO!

Forbes Magazine offer for $10. Can't afford it. Don't need it.

My timeshare fees are due. Too bad for them. No money right now.

I owe Disney movie club $171. Oh, my! No money. I'll work on that one.