Strike continues

The producer's alliance or AMPTP, is preparing to hunker down for a months-long strike that could devastate the economic lives not just of writers but of any workers whose jobs vanish when a lack of scripts shuts down the production that employs them. AMPTP's position is that it can outlast the writers, and it probably can. But why should people in the business of making and selling creative product evince such contempt for the people who make that product possible? Do these gentlemen, some of whom are active and vigorous fundraisers for the Democratic Party, know what the Democrats think of corporate fat cats that try to starve out unions? In this strike, management may yet get what it wants — but only by pursuing it with callousness, greed, and disdain for the people who create the work without which their companies wouldn't exist. It's hard to respect anyone who wants to win that way.

It's also really hard to not call them hypocrites. Actually, no, that was VERY easy!

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Remember

France, 1916, World War I
Two wounded British soldiers walk arm-in-arm with a wounded German prisoner (left) towards a dressing station.

Photogallery

Falling Flags around Hillary

ABC News' Eloise Harper and Rick Klein Report: It's been a rough stretch for Hillary Clinton -- a tough debate performance, a lost voice, and the revelation that the Clinton campaign had been coaching questioners at events...

Then, on Sunday, everything started falling down around her.

After a very Presidential-esque news conference - Clinton turned around to leave the reporters and their peppering questions. A staffer swooped open a curtain, and chaos ensued. Four large American flags came crashing in front of Senator Clinton as she headed for the door. In a controlled panic, the staffers and the Senator attempted to catch the flags before they fell to the ground.

"I think the bases are not weighted enough." Clinton said as she propped flags back up. One of Clinton's aides quickly summoned the advance man in charge to assist in the crisis.

Clinton's spokesperson shifted back and forth between the cameras and the flag commotion before looking right at the cameras and saying "thanks everyone."

There were no planted questions to worry about, but on this Veterans Day - the flags dropping all around the Senator created quite a stir among the press before Clinton fled the scene.

Thanks to reader 'Nevermind' for sending this our way. Remember your Veterans today, kids.

Guns, Guns, Guns!

US Supreme Court may decide this week whether to examine the question of the right to bear arms. It's also almost the beginning of deer season.

Washington DC, in a misguided attempt to stem murders - seeks to maintain its three-decade ban on individual's Constitutional right to carry handguns. Chicago has a similar ban. I argue that the BAN has not stopped murdering people in DC, or Chicago. For some reason, even with their Constitutional rights trampled on, somehow, people are still dying. Some even with - hold on - handguns!

There were 169 murders, 137 by firearms. No one gives a crap how the other murders were committed, apparently.

The Supreme Court judges were due to have an initial discussion on Friday, and their decision on whether or not to examine the question could be announced as early as Tuesday. I'm confused how a discussion to hear someone read the second amendment out loud - it's not like it's written all flowery or open for debate, say, like Presidential Powers and Executive Privilege...

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Be looking for more on this issue as the week progresses. Oh, and if you think my article is a smidge biased - read the source material, for the original cutndapaste.

Noah's Puddin.

Interfaith event features Noah's Ark story

By Margaret Smykla

In one Islamic version of the Noah's Ark story, the believers were saved from starvation by Noah, who mixed scraps of food to create a delicious meal. The next day, the flood receded.

In another version, to celebrate the end of the flood and offer thanks to God, the survivors prepared a delicacy with the food left on the ark.

In either case, that meal, called "Noah's pudding,'' owes its taste to contrasting flavors borne from a variety of ingredients.

"It shows how cultural diversity can be delicious,'' said Hakan Yildiz, executive director of the Pittsburgh Dialogue Foundation, which will be presenting Prayer from the Ark: An Interfaith Celebration.

Besides a discussion of the Middle Eastern tradition of celebrating the landing of Noah's Ark, and a question-and-answer session on the faith and its customs, Noah's pudding will be served.

"The goal of these events is to raise the awareness of people from the different faith traditions about the common elements in the traditions, especially in our world today in which we need to foster peace and understanding,'' said program director.

A common element in the Holy Books of Christianity, Judaism and Islam is the Noah's Ark story.

They will serve Noah's pudding made with wheat, white beans, chick peas, raisins, almonds, apricot, figs, sugar, rice and milk. It will be topped with walnuts and cinnamon.

"Today we have global terrorism, war, crime and so on. The solution is to connect as a community around our common values and to look to God."

...that and a really goofy made-up story about a flood.