Red's World

Occupy Wall Street: What's Happening on the Streets?

So, I went by Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan yesterday for the second time since the Occupation. As I drove past, the drum circle was still beating with half-naked people dancing against greed.

Why do these people prefer to live in a park, and do performance art for free? I'm guessing because it's fun. It's like "Burning Man NYC." And as of today, Bloomberg hasn't cleaned up the park so the protesters can party-on for now!

It reminds me of the drum circle on Venice Beach, Sunday afternoons.Everyone is dancing, smoking weed, and feeling a part of something creative. Unfortunately, like most people who don't have the luxury of being unemployed, I haven't had the time to hang out and enjoy the party at "Liberty Square".  

To be honest, I don't really understand what these folks are protesting exactly. I've tried, but even reading their statement on their website, I don't really get what's wrong with greed.

Seriously. Is it the American Dream that they don't like? I understand that they are calling themselves the %99 - but aren't most of us that? Are they protesting the fact that anyone in our great nation has the opportunity to make it to the 1%, or are they simply against the currency system?

The thing is, in this county, we all have the right to get rich. It's what our country is based on. Anyone can become the %1 and have the privilege and benefits that come with having money. Maybe I'm a dreamer but, I like the fact that anything is possible here in the great US of A - even living in a park for weeks on end without food or shelter or adequate toilets. But as part of that 99% myself, I cannot support a cause or a group if I don't know what they stand for? And I do support causes that I believe in, like Gay Rights.

I understand that the wall street protesters don't like the way the rich are spending or using their money, but how would they feel about someone else told them how to spend their money or time? I'm sure that those who are corporate successes don't want to be told, anymore than the protesters do, how to live their lives.

We all make our own way, I have. I live my life as I chose and I don't fall victim to anyone else greed. I only fall victim when I see myself as limited and I blame others for those limitations. But since so many feel so strongly about blaming greed for their life, I've tried to understand. However, researching the goals of the Occupy Wall Street Movement has proven quite difficult. Using their website, even going on Twitter and other social network sites that the movement uses to gather steam for their illusive cause, doesn't prove helpful in shedding light on how they want things to change.

Those brave enough to asked people at the Occupation questions about their demands are given conflicting stories or are met with defensiveness from the protesters, who seem a little angry. "If you don't understand, than you are against us," the protesters say. And since they won't appoint a spokesperson and they refuse to organize themselves enough to give a clear message it's seems that what they want will remain unknown. But they say, "We will be here (in the park) as long as it takes." Takes to do what? Who knows?

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Ten Years After: 9/11

I had a dream last night. Perhaps I was dreaming because I was told to be careful here in New York City on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, but it was vivid. I dreamed that I was leaving New York City with one of my best girlfriends. We were driving up into the country side. It was a beautiful fall day. It almost felt like summer. As we got further away from the City, we started to wonder why we had left. We started to think that there was no reason to leave on this day, so we turned around.

The next think I knew I was in an apartment in Manhattan on one of the upper floors. I looked out the window to see an airplane high in the sky. It looked like it had lost control and was going to crash. I knew from the angle of the plane that it was not going to hit the building I was in, but one behind me, one that was much higher. And then the world crashed and tumbled. We looked out the window to see pieces of buildings broken and strewn throughout the streets. Police, trying to make a path and people coming up on it from side streets with shock and puzzlement on their faces.

I woke up and walked out into my living room at 8:46am - the exact moment that the first Tower was hit ten-years ago today. I turned on the TV to watch the Reading of the Names of those lost and to see the Footprints of the Twin Towers.

No matter how much time passes, there are some events that are always with us. Today, on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 we honor those we lost as we look to the future with hope.

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SAG Awards: Actors Honoring Actors!!

Being a performer and union member myself, I love Acting Awards - especially when we keep it in the family.

And I am pleased that once again, there is talk about combining SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) into one Actors Union...It's about time, don't ya think? I'm all for it.

And now, in order of appearance:

Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series:
Steve Buscemi, BOARDWALK EMPIRE
He was so nervous about being the first award of the night, it was cute! And although I didn't expect it, I really wanted Hugh Laurie to get his due for HOUSE...maybe next year?

Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series:
(My personal pick!) Julianna Margulies, THE GOOD WIFE
She was so stunning and gracious, in her red dress (My favorite color). The best part was her thanking her in-laws for producing the most beautiful human being...her husband. "Life is just better with you in it Keith." I love romance.

Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series:
The Cast of BOARDWALK EMPIRE
Steve Buscemi did the talking but he didn't know what to say...he left his napkin with his speech on his table. This win is no surprise but I was routing for THE GOOD WIFE!

Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role:
Melissa Leo, THE FIGHTER
When she got to the podium she was crying. She's better when someone else writes her words or clothes her... so she says. But I thought she did great and the silver sparkle dress she wore was amazing.
But, what I want to know is why wasn't Dianne Weist nominated for RABBIT HOLE? Hello?

Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK
What a disappointment. Chris Colfer deserved this one.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series:
Betty White, HOT IN CLEVELAND
Who doesn't love a sweet, funny, old lady? She's 89 year old. And she got a well deserved standing ovation as she walked the long way to the podium. Why would they put any nominee, especially an old one, in the back? I don't understand that, but I'm glad she won!!

Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series:
The Cast of MODERN FAMILY
Yay! How fun is this show??? SO fun!! Ty Burrell spoke for the show and they were so happy. It is truly an ensemble piece. 

Screen Actors Guild Awards 47th Annual Life Achievement Award:
Ernest Borgnine, who just turned 94 years old.
He's done 164 films so far. He's so cute. I think he and Betty White should hook up! To all the actors, he said, "We are a privileged few who have been chosen to work in this field of entertainment."  And it is a privilege!

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:
Al Pacino, YOU DON'T KNOW JACK
Good job...unfortunately he was not there to accept the award.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:
Claire Danes, TEMPLE GRANDIN
So awesome that she gave credit for her performance to her fellow cast members. Just lovely.

Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role:
Christian Bale, THE FIGHTER
I picked him...who wouldn't! He's hot. Plus, he appreciates the gift of being an actor. "We get to walk in other peoples shoes, and life without empathy is no life at all."

Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role:
Natalie Portman, BLACK SWAN
We all knew she was the front runner... and she going to be a mom. It's almost like she's grown up.

Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role:
Colin Firth, THE KING'S SPEECH
I think he might take all the awards for this category this year. But this award is the one that really matters to him because it was getting his SAG card that made him feel like a real actor!

Outstanding Ensemble Acting:
THE KINGS SPEECH
I was surprised. I really saw the cast of the SOCIAL NETWORK as the best ensemble. But everyone is always more moved by a story of over coming than taking over. Oh well - good for them.

Ok, so my question is why don't they air the winners for the Stunt Ensembles? That's not right, they're part of our union too!! Why don't they get any air time? I guess they were just the warm up act... to the main ceremony.

The stunt performers and coordinators from INCEPTION and TRUE BLOOD received honors for Outstanding Performance by Film and Television Stunt Ensembles. SAG Awards committee chair, JoBeth Williams, and SAG president, Ken Howard, announced the awards on the Red Carpet.

Thank you Actors and the Screen Actors Guild for giving all of us the chance to dream, feel and experience things we never would, if it wasn't for the movies...and TV!

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Treating Smokers like Criminals...it's not right to take away rights!

This past Wednesday, September 15, 2010, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City proposed a smoking ban in Parks and Beaches. Are you kidding me?

According to poles most people feel that this is going too far, by taking peoples personal rights and freedoms away. Even Fox News, known to be conservatively bias, did a piece on how ridiculous this new law would be. Also stating how it is unreasonable for the government to determine how people live and what the rights of Americans should be.

  On top of that, to enforce such a law that would include a ban on smoking in the pedestrian plazas some of which are in Time Square - where tourist from all around the world come - is unreasonable. Tourism could suffer from this. Imagine being a smoking tourist and a police men approaches you for smoking on the street and then fines you for it...would you want to come visit such a city again? Plus, it would mean that City Police man hours would be waisted on stopping smokers from smoking, rather than keeping the City safe from real crime.  

As we know, the idea that smoking is bad for your health has been widely accepted as fact. And, though it may have some merit, studies on second-hand smoke are inconclusive, but tend to find minimal health risks associated with second-hand smoke. Be that as it may, in 2003, the Mayor along with The City Council, under the guise of concern for public health, pushed a law through to ban smoking in public places including the workplace. This law was kept under-wraps until it was already in effect, not giving those who may have opposed it an opportunity to suggest other, less extreme, measures of dealing with this issue. It totally abolished the rights of restaurant and bar owners to choose to have their establishment be a smoking or non-smoking business - not to mention that smokers are now openly treated as second-class citizens simply because they exercise their right to choose to smoke.

Now Bloomberg is trying to justify taking rights away even further by again using fear tactics. Armored with unfounded statements from people who are seen as credible, he justifies his proposed law by siting the dangers of second-hand smoke in the great out-of-doors without having any substantial evidence to support that claim. It's frightening that so many people are so easily manipulated by such claims. I believe it's just plain wrong to try to coerce people based on half-truths and to use social pressure to take individual rights away from citizens. And, I wish that as a free country, we and those representing us would act in concert with the spirit of our constitution and protect the rights of everyone, even when we don't agree with them.

This is an issue of individual rights, not the public health issue that it has been touted to be. I hope we can keep our eye on the ball and realize that as more and more freedoms are taken from us - be it the right to marriage whom we choose, the right to eat whatever food we enjoy most, or the right to smoke in public without being treated like a criminal- we run the risk of losing all our rights and freedoms as Americans. To stop this nonsense: Stop this ordinance from being passed. If you are a NYC resident call or email your City Councilman.  

Weather you agree or disagree with the choices people make, if you believe that we all have the right to choose, than please take a stance to protect the rights of every individual to make his or her own choices. If we don't stand up, we could lose the freedom to make any choices at all. 

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9-11: it still hurts

I didn't post on the anniversary date of the attacks. But instead, I watched as mourners put flowers in the memorial and the names of the victims were read, one by one.

There were 4 moments of silence in New York, one to mark the time each building was hit and one at each moment when each building fell. I thought about not only my City but of the victims at the Pentagon and the heroic victims in Pennsylvania.

I did not lose anyone personal in the attacks and I was out of range of the planes myself. But - as it is with most Americans - the tragedy and the fear that took our nation that fateful September day still hurts. And remembering that both hurts and warms my heart.

It hurts my heart, because we should be able to go about our day without experiencing the fear and loss of being attacked out of no where - that fear will remain with us forever. And we grieve the loss of a safe world, the loss of those who will now grow up without a parent, spouse or child because of the anger of others who were misguided as they crashed our planes into buildings. As Americans, we thought we were somehow immune to this kind of terrorism. But we are not. Even 9 years after that sunny Tuesday in September of 2001, we remain diligent in our watch so we can feel at least the illusion that if we watch our backs we'll be safer. 

And, it warms my heart because out of this came an appreciation for each other as vulnerable fellow human beings. Along with this, a tenderness toward those who had personal losses, loss of hope, and for those who risked and lost their lives coming together to try to help others; this tenderness towards others is now part of who we are, drilled into our collective psyche with a violence from which we could either run or embrace.

They say that by 2011 (Ten years after the attacks) we will have a memorial and office buildings built up on the grave-site of our heros and victims where the Twin Tower once stood. But for now, in New York we have the lights. They illuminate our skyline honoring the dead and igniting optimism for a safer, better future. 

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Healthcare Reform...Red Style!

Everyone is sick of healthcare... get the irony!?! 

So...let Me take your vital signs...are you feeling anything? (wink, wink)

I have to be honest with you, with all the talk over the past year, and especially last month, about healthcare reform - I don't really understand what it is, what was decided, or who benefits from it -- or if it's really going to make anyone more healthy here in our great country.

Apparently, it's all very interesting (and by interesting, I mean boring), but it's really health insurance reform - lowering insurance premiums, and taxes related to medical costs, etc. etc. The government has a vlog that you can check to get all the latest updates on the new healthcare program.

On their site, they review such issues as how the new bill will create new consumer friendly health care and affordable health coverage. It'll impact health insurance for the individual, family and business by reducing premiums and creating a new competitive health insurance market; and how it will make criminals out of insurance companies who deny coverage based on preexisting medical problems.  Most insurance companies may not turn out to be criminals... but they are (under this new act) required to stop with the arbitrary increases in premiums.

But I think the videos on their site would have captured the audience attention more if they were in the form of a music video - like MTV...(stay tuned to Red's World for upcoming music videos by Red)

One thing I know for sure is that if I'd been elected President, and I did run for President in 2008 on the fun platform, there would have been some real reform - because I would have taken your "health" into my hands and take a very personal interest in it. That's right, Red would have taken care of you... It's more fun that way.

After all a "healthy" life is a fun life!

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Winning Hearts, Minds and Medals at the 2010 Olympics

Red and Johnny Weir win hearts, minds and medals at the 2010 Olympics with thier stunning performance of "Fire and Ice" in the New Figure Skating event: The Perfection Skate Competition.

When Johnny Weir was scandalously underscored for his brilliant performance of "Fallen Angel"  in the Men's Figure Skating Competition (putting him in 6th place for that event), something unexpected occured. Never discouraged, Johnny spontaneously decided to partner with Red for in a combination that was spell binding.

Thier chemistry, freedom and magic was palpable as they skated their way to Gold, being the first American skating pair to win in Perfection Skating.

The new Olympic Event came into being, spontaneously, as a result of audience demands for perfection on ice.

And who better to embody the essence of this sport than these two representatives of perfection? Judges and audience alike, were mesmerized by Red and Johnny in every way.

It appears that these two shining stars were destined for Gold. 

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Salt This! New York Health Department: An Open Response

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm on a salt crusade and anyone who wants to join me is more than welcome. If you don't like salt, or want it banished from your plate, that's your choice. But you have to agree that we all have the right to eat what and how we want. It's like the first amendment right to freedom of speech - only it's about freedom to eat.

But New York City Heath Department is now trying to take that right away by trying to control how much salt we eat -- whether we are eating out at restaurants or at home. Who are these people? Why the need to exercise supremacy over others? Tell me...what happened to freedom of choice in this country? It's getting more and more difficult to live decadently and I live in the City of decadence (well, one of them).

The New York City Health Department is asking the food industry to voluntarily lower salt in their products over the next five years. Their goal is to decrease salt level by 25% - TWENTY FIVE Percent! Ouch! And they have this inane idea that if they decrease it slowly over time, people's palates will adjust, get used to the lack of flavor, and won't notice that their food doesn't taste good anymore. That's ridiculous! What do they take us for - idiots? (That's a rhetorical question... of course they do and, unfortunately, many of us are.)

We've been here before:

Seriously, the idea is that it's somehow more healthy to eat less salt? People will believe anything! Don't they know that decades ago they were telling people not to eat so much pepper? That pepper produces hardening of the arteries and liver damage - In fact, it's six times as active as gin in producing cirrhosis of the liver. But there is no way we're going back to the days of prohibition. So, gin and pepper stay! 

It's not trendy to reduce pepper (or gin) in people's diet, not anymore. Now, it's much more popular to focus on salt as the evil. But does it really seem right to blame death and destruction on a natural substance like salt? Isn't it worse to put synthetic things in our system? Not according to the Health Department. What arrogance to think that we can do better than nature at providing good preservatives and flavor enhancers!

Many people buy into the idea that salt causes high blood pressure, heart problems or whatever the current rhetoric is; fear tactics that have little base in reality. What they consider healthy eating is, incidentally, not necessarily accurate. The truth is we need salt to live. Creating a salt deficiency is unsafe. But the Health Department thinks we're so stupid that we will believe anything they claim and, with this, they attempt to "handle" us.

They claim that people get 80% of their salt intake from the way the food is cooked or packaged not from table salt...well, they've never sat at a table where I'm eating. I grew up on processed food and have used (what would be considered by their standards to be excessive amounts of) table salt on that food - all my life...and guess what? I have LOW blood pressure. If I ate less salt, my blood would simply stop pumping and that would be a tragedy. I could die. So stop the silliness and let us eat food we like and need. Let us determine what's healthy for our own bodies. And, quite honestly, if it does kills us - which it won't - isn't that our choice? I'd rather die of salty food than a flavorless life.

Oh, and then, one of the worst arguments comes from Dr.Thomas Farley (New York City Health Commissioner) who said, “Consumers can always add salt to food, but they can’t take it out,” True, you can always add salt - and I do. But has he ever tasted food that was not prepared with enough salt and then tried to add enough salt to it after preparation? It never works right - the food always just tastes bland or weird. You try this and you'll see what I'm talking about.

And think of the cost to the food industry to implement such a feat...taste testing and recipe changing takes time and money. Who will bare the cost of this? Us - the consumer! We will have to pay more for food that is not delicious.

I know some people who have been wooed by the Health Department's claims and are trying to lower their salt intake. These people will not be impacted by this "out with the sodium" incentive.

Again, my argument is:

We should have choice - about lifestyle, about beliefs and about food!

People can currently buy less-salty packaged food goods and low-sodium menu items if they choose to now. So why force all of us to do that? I mean, I'm not going to make you eat your vegetables, and I certainly won't eat them. But I will, absolutely, fight for your right to eat them, no matter what anyone else thinks!

What's a sodium deficient girl, like me, to do?
...Start a salt crusade! Join me in maintaining our right to be salty.

Click here to go to our facebook SOS (Save Our Salt) group - let's change the world

Kisses,
Red

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NY State Senate made a BIG mistake with the Gays!

It's been 2 week since the decision and I'm still in shock. On December 2nd, 2009 The New York State Senate rejected a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. This is the same bill that had passed the State Assembly repeatedly and that Governor Paterson was ready to sign it into law. The State Senate voted it down: 38-24. 8 of those who voted against it were Democrats along with all the Republican NYS Senators.

So If I do my math right, if the Democrats had voted with the desires of the people they represent in mind (those that got them into office), by all rights, this bill should have passed. But government doesn't work that way. The idea that those in office represent the voters is an urban myth in our culture. And it hurts because good people have trusted it and have been gravely betrayed. It breaks my heart because this decision only continues the gay community's  struggle for acceptance as fellow humans; a struggle, which at this point in history, should be history.

But, maybe I'm confused...I didn't think I lived in one of the Red States (no disrespect to Red's World). I thought New York was pretty hip to human rights and open minded to issues that may push the traditionalist limits. But I guess I was wrong. New York Senate, you should be ashamed of yourself for acting like a frightened child. We were counting on you to stand up and be a man about this issue and protect the rights of all your state residents...not just the straight ones. 

As you should know by now, I have a great fondness for the Gay community. I feel for them because, like them, I live a lifestyle that is often misunderstood and judged by others. And as a result, I have had to endure scorn, unprovoked ridicule and rejection from people who consider themselves "good people". I've had people express concern about the kind of example I'm setting. I've had people have ask me to change or feel wary about associating with me. Others simply feel sorry for me, assuming that there is something wrong with me; that I'm abnormal or unhappy. And I've definitely been described as sinful. But even with all those who disagree with my way of life and my philosophy - even with all the discomfort I've had to endure for living in a way that is outside accepted social norms - no one has taken my rights away, or said that I cannot marry if I choose. 

We all judge others based on our experience, beliefs or our fears, even I've done it - but I've never felt I had the right to tell others how to live. Discrimination of this kind makes no sense to me. What are people so afraid of? I mean really? Why do they feel that others need to be like them in order to be accepted and appreciated? 

And why do they care who someone is attracted to? I may not be attracted to a certain type of person but I don't feel compelled to belittle someone who is. Why would anyone feel compelled to control who marries who? No one would tell a man and woman they couldn't marry, even if we can see that it's not the best pairing. So why do people feel that they have the right to make that decision for gays? Why is this such a charged issue? Who are we in this country that we feel that we have the right to disallow people that love one another from getting legally married? What kind of arrogance is driving this crusade?

Laws are made to protect people and their rights. We Americans pride ourselves in being able to live in a country where we are able to pursue happiness; where we are free to express who we are in a nation that is safe. Gays marrying doesn't harm anyone and it provides happiness to those who want to marry a member of the same sex. So why would is that right not afforded to 10% of our population? 

The only thing I can figure out is that people are desperately afraid of those that are different. I know that's part of why I'm often disrespected and not accepted. We need to stop the fear and move forward. We need to act like we are human beings, and stop the judgement. We need to be what we claim we are: The home of the free.  

Chicken Little may be right

So sometime today (October 9, 2009), between the 9:00am and Noon (Eastern Time) America is bombing the moon. It's some sort of search for water, it's a scientific discovery, it's about exploration ...but I'm stuck on - we're bombing the moon.

Anyway, i thought I should give you a "heads up" as the fall-out (literally what and how far it will fall from the sky) is unknown. As are the specifics of the impact of the bombing the on the orbits of the moon or earth or the sun or the universe or the solar system. And honestly, I don't know enough about it to know more than, well, it's quite an undertaking and the potential effects (good or bad) are yet to be determined... I guess you can watch the coverage and see.

But, just in case Chicken Little was right and the sky is falling...I wanted to take a moment to say, thanks for reading my blog!