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Posts Tagged ‘boxer’

Frank DeMartini

So Goes California, So Goes the Nation?

by Frank DeMartini

I have been a California resident for the past 23 years.  During that time, I have seen the best of times and worst of times.  Prior to this economic disaster, the only serious recession in those 23 years was in 1991-1992.  At that time, myself and many others in similar situations faced economic turmoil.  However, nothing comes close to what is happening now in what used to be the greatest State in the union. 

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According to the most recent reports, the unemployment rate in California has reached 12.2%.  The rate in Los Angeles County is at 12.7%.  Some cities within the county such as Compton and Commerce are over 20%.  These are all far worse than the national rate of 9.8%. 

What makes these numbers even scarier is that they have not hit rock bottom according to economic estimates at both the state and federal level.  In fact, the State Government estimate of a maximum unemployment rate of 12.8% seems like it is going to be topped shortly, probably by early winter.  Is it possible that California’s unemployment rate will top the number in 1940 of 14.7% which is the highest recorded on record?  (more…)

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Posted Oct 24th 2009 at 5:53 pm in Featured Story, Politics | 172 Comments

Big Hollywood

EXCLUSIVE: DeVore and Free Speech Win Round One Vs. Don Henley

by Big Hollywood

On April 1, California State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s campaign for U.S. Senate against Barbara Boxer released the YouTube, “After the Hope of November is Gone,” a parody video based on Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer.” The video criticized President Obama and mocked celebs like Henley who have been made “crazy” with desire over the President. 

It took just six days for Henley to file a copyright claim under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and YouTube immediately took the video down.  


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Refusing to be intimidated, DeVore fired back with a DMCA counter-notification and on April 14th created another YouTube parody aimed at Boxer’s support for cap-and-trade. ”All She Wants to do is Tax” is based Henley’s “All She Wants to do is Dance” and immediately began racking up 10,000 views a day.

Though he doesn’t hold the rights to ”Dance,” Henley filed a federal suit against DeVore and encouraged the true copyright holder to file a copyright infringement complaint with YouTube.  Within a few days YouTube took DeVore’s second video down. Then DeVore caught Henley off guard and fought back with a counter-suit claiming Henley was infringing on his First Amendment right to political parody.   (more…)

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Posted Aug 7th 2009 at 6:44 am in Entertainment, Law | 80 Comments

Burt Prelutsky

Celebrities and Other Idiots

by Burt Prelutsky

I have lived in Los Angeles most of my life, and for a good part of it worked in Hollywood, writing for TV. What’s more, for many of those years, I was a registered Democrat. I even voted for Jimmy Carter. Being in such a confessional mood, I almost feel as if I should stand up and introduce myself as Burt P, a recovering liberal, and proudly announce that I’ve been politically sober for over 8,000 days.

It may be coincidental that I began to see the error of my ways at just about the time the suits at the networks decided I was too old to write for the tube. On the other hand, being apart from the business for a while certainly gave me ample opportunity to take a more objective look at it. (more…)

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Posted Feb 3rd 2009 at 8:30 am in Celebrity News, Politics | 98 Comments