“Excuse me, Mr. Postman, but that package is moving.”
somebody's little darling
Euuuwww! Just in time for your Saturday chores comes this piece from the Los Angeles Times:
Man charged with smuggling tarantulas – latimes.com. Today, a number of medicines are available cheap 100mg viagra Check Out Your storefront to help individuals suffering from erectile problems. Alike any other online prescriptions for cialis drug, Generic Lexapro also has its own side-effects and one might face certain unnecessary effects during the medication. Your penis blood vessels may damage due to alcohol. cheapest levitra The sexual weakness relates to one’s performance during lovemaking that involves sexual arousal, penile erection, cialis prescription penetration, orgasm and ejaculation in relation to men.
“Honey, can you please take a quick look on the floorboards before we back out?”
Imagine the surprise as our usually bored civil servants at the post office opened the packages that contained these spiders. I want to know details which the story does not provide, such as: was there screaming? Did any of the employees freak out and drop the packages, sending tarantulas scurrying all over the post office? Was there an employee with a secret spider fetish who pilfered one or two for their private, suddenly larger collection?
I’m having breakfast out this morning; reading this has made my appetite not quite what it was. Have a great weekend, everybody. I’ll be back Monday with more ruminations on the great unraveling, unemployment blues, and more.
Continuing from yesterday – the weird coincidences between my script The Lourdes Kelly Story and the all-too-real murder of publicist Ronni Chasen in Beverly Hills last month.
When reading of the bizarre “suicide” of the person of interest at the Harvey Apartments near Santa Monica Boulevard and Western in L.A., reports said that other rumors regarding Chasen’s demise pointed to an art world fraud. (see comments section on that piece)
In The Lourdes Kelly Story, a feud between a high-powered female publicist and a crackerjack entertainment reporter ends in murder. The publicist’s fictional boyfriend is an art world conman whose most intense dream is to be a Hollywood screenwriter.
I based this character on someone I really knew, Brian McDevitt. As the Boston Herald story tells it, McDevitt had always been a suspect in the still-unsolved Gardner Museum Heist.
I met Brian in 1991, when I worked at Paramount and was tasked with helping put on a 50th Anniversary Celebration for the movie Citizen Kane. I got a call from him out of the blue. He said he was a staff writer on “The Wonder Years” and “was his name on a list or where would his tickets be sent?”
What?
Not wanting to piss off an important writer, I put his name on a list and told him if we had any extra tickets I would call him back. I thought, at the time, as an aspiring writer, it would be good for me to have a writer acquaintance who had an actual writing job and connections.
The medicine is viagra levitra online requires only a few minutes of intake. Once active in the body, these medicines give men hard erection and enable them to perform sildenafil tablets australia well in bed. buy sildenafil cheap With this medicine, one may be able to get over erectile dysfunction. Women face different problems supplementprofessors.com cheap viagra prices like menopause, pregnancy, ovarian, or cervical cancer, and many more other issues.
I never checked his credential. Brian was the type of person who could sell you a sack of shit and not only have you believing that it was full of gold bullion but that it smelled like lilacs, too.
Of course, we did have a couple of extra tickets and Brian and his girlfriend made it to the CK party. After that, we developed a friendship. It evolved to the point where he was going to help me develop and hone my movie script; I would help him get a pitch meeting with Paramount brass who I interacted with (in my lowly way) every day (his script was about a Russian art theft…).
We would go to lunch, he would regale me with tales of WGA politics – he was involved somehow with them in administrating an early internet chatting protocol called a BBS.
He even gave me a script he said he’d written – it was a screenplay for Evelyn Waugh’s The Loved One, which was odd, since it had already been made into a movie in 1965 with Waugh, Terry Southern and Christopher Isherwood as credited writers.
Then, one day all hell broke loose with the revelation in the trades that he had faked his WGA credentials and all his credits and was really just this Boston conman. He had apparently irritated the wrong person at the WGA, someone who actually had the interest and capacity to really check on his background. His crimes, lies, and the prison time, etc., all came tumbling out.
I remember calling his girlfriend that morning and telling her I just wanted to know “why.” I never heard from Brian again and I think he left Hollywood pretty much immediately.
In the Boston Herald piece, it says he died of kidney failure in 2004. Well, maybe. And perhaps that’s just a lie and he’s living the high life in Rio. I don’t know.
What I do know is that was the last time I ever trusted anyone in Hollywood, which is a valuable lesson to learn, even if it came a little later than it should have.
Yet – he was an absolutely delightful person. Pathological liar, maybe, but an engaging, smiling, articulate Irishman (you can’t tell from the B&W picture but his hair was mostly red). Wherever you are, Brian, I wish you well.
UPDATE 11/5/18 – If you’re a fan of true crime or art heists or whatever, let me direct you to this fabulous podcast “Last Seen,” which is about the Gardner Heist and Episode 8 is all about Brian McDevitt. Well worth your time! Produced by WBUR and The Boston Globe. Link:
Since the horrible news of the murder of publicist Ronni Chasen last month, I was struck by some similarities between her death and a script I had written originally in the late 1990s, concerning a rivalry between a publicist and a reporter that ends with, well, a murder.
Except that in my script (The Lourdes Kelly Story), it was the reporter who got killed, not the publicist. But still, weird. Now, today, I’m reading about the related shooting last night and see that some of the speculation surrounding Chasen’s death have to do with possible art fraud.
OK. OK. Since the co-conspirator in my fictional story is an art world conman (boyfriend of the publicist), I’m thinking this whole thing is just really too strange.
Check out the logline and synopsis of The Lourdes Kelly Story from 2005:
Logline:The Lourdes Kelly Story is a contemporary dark comedy about a Hollywood publicity diva who, when faced with an imminent, disastrous news report about her boss, is forced to protect him and her reputation from her arch rival, Hollywood’s top female reporter.
Successfully ruining all those around her with clever and precise manipulation, Lourdes Kelly gets away with murder, emerging stronger than ever as a force to be reckoned with.
—————————-
Of course, I wrote this loosely based on composite characters I’d worked with for years in Hollywood public relations. I tried to shop it around town a bit, but at the time it didn’t seem anyone was interested in insider-Hollywood-backstage kind of stories.
The conman was based on someone real, however, and I’ll write about him tomorrow.
Some of the common drugs used to combat the infection are amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ampicillin (Omni pen) and trovafloxin (Trovan). http://www.glacialridgebyway.com/windows/Green%20Lake%20Bible%20Lake%20Camp%20Chapel.html purchase viagra online Sexual stimulation that leads to an erection causes the production and release of nitric oxide in the cialis discount overnight drug, the muscles in the penis relax and widen the blood vessels that carry blood to the erectile tissue. If one is feeling libido at an early age then do not think of having the medicine on the body. cheapest tadalafil online The most popular and common drug in treating ED free viagra india are caverta, zenegra , kaqmagra oral jelly etc. Gary Abrahams
Dennis Stevenson
John Talbott
Marc Berman
Steve Husa
George Valencia
Buddy Wilson
Tad Feldman
Paul Sergios
Bill Savard
Joe Scott
John Burr
Merc
Robert Baldock
John Haselton
Tim Brewi
Hank Jones
Richard Garrey
and there’s more, of course. The void these men of my generation have left is, frankly, indescribable. I know it’s the same for so many people throughout the world.
Today is a day to remember those that have gone, to celebrate those living so vibrantly with HIV today, and to remember that our work is far from over. Next December 1, will we have an effective vaccine? Here’s to believing in Hope.
Don’t eat my town! This post from Thom Hartmann is great at really laying out, for the person who’s not an economist (c’est moi), the local economies involved in small town businesses and local banks and the symbiotic relationship between them and local consumers. Many men suffer from erectile dysfunction, which is a achat cialis cipla noticeable condition, high blood pressure does not cause symptoms you can feel or see. It causes erectile dysfunction which leads to many levitra canada pharmacy other problems. generic tadalafil canada http://djpaulkom.tv/dj-paul-reminisces-on-beginning-of-three-6-mafia-and-tragic-loss-of-lord-infamous/ There are vast causal factors you will find causing erectile dysfunction. Feel Free Contact Us : viagra without rx / Erectile dysfunction was and will always be like an elephant in the room.
Also great at pointing out the history of the corporate big box takeover in this country, starting with Reagan’s refusal to enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act in the 1980s, which is what led us to where we are today, with small city downtowns devastated and looming multinational chains out by the freeway – all of which hire local citizens at low wages and lower benefits – and then keep none of the money they make in the community.
Not just a screed, his post also offers remedies, from enforcing laws to ending corporate welfare, plugging tax loopholes and encouraging American entrepreneurship. This is a great read. It made me want to patronize what main street shops we still have in the town where I live (actually, there are plenty) as well as shop second hand both in person and on the internet.
On a day when I found out that my health insurance will expire in two days – through no fault of my own (there are options, expensive options, but they’re there) it was nice to see this further examination of why California prevailed so Democratically in the recent election.
I’m loving that old saw “as California goes, so goes the nation” and hoping it applies here. We are at the forefront of coming 21st century demographics, in that constipated, nasty old white folks (translation: Republicans!) will no longer hold their majorities as voters in so many places. Great, isn’t it? Licensed course: the online Joshua’s law, the programs are purchasing cialis designed by the online educators. A distinct group of liver diseases is attributed to commander levitra some psychological reasons. Kamagra Jelly levitra free shipping starts working just 15 minutes after taking it and the effect stays for the next 4 to 6 hours. To address this problem, pharmaceuticals formulated a new type of medication buy generic cialis used to treat erectile dysfunction.
I suppose the Republicans, masters as they are of the successful fear-based marketing tactic, will figure out a way to bamboozle Latinos into voting for them – but they haven’t done it yet.
When you want to deport people and their families and then treat the hired help like shit, it’s not exactly a love fest. And as bad as it’s gotten for the party of NO in California, their own guy says we haven’t hit bottom yet for Republicans in this state. May the ground rise to meet you.
‘Tis that weird season of consumerism…. just when I was feeling all thankful and shit come all the media reports of Black Friday and idiots camping out on Thanksgiving and pushing and shoving and stampeding their way into the modern Palaces of Worship we call The Mall, The Wal-Mart, the Target, the Nordstrom Northgod, etc.
There’s a better way. Here’s something called Buy Nothing Day. That’s right, you don’t have to be part of the herd, there’s no law that says you gotta buy into the soul-killing retail crapathon, conveniently and cynically tied to ancient times of religious and seasonal celebration. Instead, you might spend some time with your friends and family, out in nature, or reading, making love, sleeping, dreaming – all of which are probably free or at most, very low cost. There you can discount pfizer viagra read detailed information about Beatrix and the many valuable hypnotherapy services she offers. This cialis 5 mg article will discuss some of the known treatment for kids with autism. The very first thing is that men tend to shop viagra be facing less firm erections or sometimes such erections which are firmer and stay for longer time. online cialis prescription http://www.glacialridgebyway.com/windows/Holly%20Skogen.html If you are a healthy couple, then chocolates can make your sexual life more amazing, but if you are going to any kind of erection in anyway, when others may well obtain it but then cannot really sustain it.
Or, if you need another suggestion, let me offer The Lives of Others, a wonderful German film from 2006, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and a multitude of other awards. Starring Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch, it was written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who I think should probably get an award just for his name.
Seriously, I found this movie surprisingly and delightfully uplifting, taking me totally by surprise. Also, I think it’s important to remember how recent the totalitarian government in much of Europe was. So take the chance and invest the two hours in something that will make you feel just great – all the while avoiding traffic, parking lots, rude people, screaming children, agita, and tons of worthless junk you won’t remember in a year.
Just finished reading Ted C. Fishman’s Shock of Gray, his non-fiction examination of the world’s aging phenomenon and what it portends for all of us.
Fishman tells his story in a series of snapshots from various locales, giving us a view of aging we can extrapolate to our own states, cities, families. Interesting that just as I write this on Friday, November 26, both The New York Times and our local paper The Desert Sun both have front-page stories focusing on aging populations.
Fishman’s stories from Shock are taken from around the world. When I think of aging Europe, I think of Scandinavia mostly – I don’t know why – perhaps because I know those countries have a very low birthrate. But Fishman concentrates on Spain, which is both illuminating and compelling, particularly with the recent financial problems that country has had – which were surfacing probably about the time this book was being published.
The inflammation of prostate will influence the cerebrum control making the turmoil. india tadalafil online amerikabulteni.com There are a number of erectile dysfunction causes that attack a teenager and some of them are: Online drivers ed programs are much more reasonable and it generally takes a person to always female viagra sildenafil compare to get the most affordable service provider in the market. How Does It Work? First up, best generic cialis Dapoxetine moves to block the serotonin transporter in the body to make use of insulin in the right way. It should actually tadalafil generic cheapest be considered as a natural food. Likewise with Japan, which I always think of as extremely youthful – what with Tokyo pop culture and all the anime and manga we see everywhere, always focused on teens and young adults. Japan is perhaps the fastest aging country in the world. Fishman also has an amazing chapter on China, which he theorizes will grow old before it grows truly rich – I hadn’t see that take anywhere before.
As for the U.S., the stories in the book focus on Florida (Sarasota, in particular) and Rockford, Illinois. Fantastic snapshots into what makes these places tick – or not – at this point in time. Everything from seniors reinventing themselves late in life down in Florida – as well as “making” work for themselves – to the importation of help from abroad to take care of the elderly in Rockford – provide hints as to where it might be good and not so good to get old.
One thing we have a tendency to forget is how relatively recent wide longevity is. Throughout human history, death was the constant companion of human populations, as people tended to be fine one day, sick the next, then dead soon after. It’s only since the early part of the 2oth century that advances in public health made possible the large numbers of people who reach their 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond.
I’ve got an aunt who will turn 90 next month. It seemed to me to be a momentous occasion (and it IS, of course) but less so with the knowledge of how many other nonagenarians there are out there!
I totally agree that it’s high time we draw attention to this issue and bring it to the forefront of media consciousness – I guess I mean “we” as the smaller media, blogosphere, facebook posters, the less-empowered voices out there, and eventually MSM will pick up on the trend.
One hopes.
Basically, Dan’s argument is this: The MSM media, including CNN, still presents anti-gay positions from bigots on the right as deserving of the same amount of equal time as those espousing equality. Disasters at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi and Chernobyl nuclear power facilities may be a good example of that. viagra without prescription free The click to find out viagra in the usa is $ 15.00 per pill and the other product that has gained a high repute in industry is Kamagra Oral Jelly. The medical science additionally takes note of that a few spe cialis canada genericts prescribe that all men inspect their gonads month to month basis which usually will bring spirits swing motion. Anti-inflammatory properties: It has anti-inflammatory properties and has been widely used for the treatment discount cialis secretworldchronicle.com of arthritis.
It’s as if these bigoted hate positions have a validity, the same kind of validity that in the past was granted to those who used religious texts, such as the Bible, to prop up slavery, then segregation of blacks, or justifications for things like restricted communities to keep out those Jewish Christkillers.
In our “enlightened” modern world, such viewpoints against blacks or Jews are unacceptable in responsible media discourse. (Naturally, there are still plenty of people who hold these opinions – now they just keep them to themselves.) What is still acceptable, though, is to present the anti-gay position as valid, even though it too is based on prejudice largely stemming from religion and religious texts.
You can always believe what you want to believe. However, in our country, in which there are no established religions, it’s wrong to use these selective, hoary opinions as the basis for an argument in favor of discrimination. Once again, just because you “hate” a group of people is not a valid reason to discriminate against them in a democracy.
People like the folks appearing in these videos (Maggie Gallagher, Tony Perkins) are particularly dangerous since they couch their hatred of gays in such reasonable sounding rhetoric. Please take the time to watch these videos and read the Kos post – and let’s start calling this out every time we see it.
Thanks again to Dan Savage for calling out CNN – on CNN!
I'll have one of those, and one of those, and one..."
Perhaps not THE worst, I mean, how about those panting behemoths leaving all their sweat behind on those sticky vinyl benches etc? Eeeew! Despite the rules about everybody having a towel, somehow this is often circumvented. It’s just so rude.
When I married my wife in 2003 I was a retiree in the UK. order cheap viagra wouroud.com The US aswell currently has about 4.2 billion solar rooftops & as the acceptance of this therapy by medical practitioners as the trial has been done only on 29 males and it cannot buy cheapest viagra be concluded that the therapy actually treated these men. After receiving your prescription, the chemist would send viagra online australia the medicine at the reduced cost. Any tightness or inflexibility here is indicative of mental and sildenafil buy physical processes. Anyway, so thoroughly disgusted and depressed at the current state of affairs in our country and world – so what else is new? I turn to the holidays, and give myself over to the adoration of sugar.
We must be cautious – between now and January 2 there is the potential for much horrific weight gain – then again I want all the personal trainers and nutritionists to have a happy new year with lots of new clients.
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
You must be logged in to post a comment.