Or I was in development hell. I have regained some of my enthusiam and urge for my project, which has had to be reduced down to a short, and will finally-FINALLY- be shooting in the next few weeks.I think that one of the reasons why I was stuck was that I was in "analysis paralysis". My preporduction research ha

So I got my latest edition of Monocle magazine, and was pleasantly surprised and puzzled by Monocle ranking of Portland al;ong side such cities as Muchen, Geneva, Vancouver BC and Kyoto as one of the world's most inviting metropolis. To be sure, Portland is tops on livability- if you are employed and making a go

Janelle Monae turns rhythm and blues into science fictionThis is someone who I have been rocking to this summer. A perfect intersection of pop music and film.

As I was doing research on my doc project, I came across some blogs on Northern Japan and it's industry- or rather, the slow contraction of the industry found there. There is an educated and well connected urban population in Sapporo and Hokadate- and then there are successful small farms and some well to do harbors. But th

I have not blogged about the oil spill because the reports kept changing, so I did not know what to believe, and this whole nightmare is the stuff of what I used to worry about in college over 12 years ago. Things like out ruthless, heedless consumption, and the junkie like dependence on crude oil to satisfy that consumptio

Not about his politics; that can wait. He was an excellent performer and director, an intellectual, and a lover and creator of modern art and pictures.Here's Dennis Hopper with the Gorillaz:

I just got through reading about 3/4ths of Louise Levison's Filmamakers and Financing, a throughly inspiring and depressing read about the whys and hows of raising funds for films. Like Dov SS Simens' Two Day Film School(tm), she through demystifies the mechanisms of film funding, writing a film business plan,

Here is a short article and video with John Leguziamo, talking about biking:http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/05/06/leguizamo.urban.biking/index.html?hpt=C2Amazing!

Now that I have done all of my research and notes for my project, now the fundraising fun begins! And by fun I mean not really fun at all! For making documentaries are a surprising competitive endeavour, even more so than making feature films. Even if you are making something so fabulous that you are sure tons of people wil

I did not forget about this blog- I have been busier than a worker bee making my documentary come to fruition. The research and preproduction part has been longer, and more fruitful, than what I expected. And then, working on several ideas for scripts for both screen and stage has taken up my month quite nicely.

So what does that mean for me?Basically, more affordable health insurance coverage and better access to quality care. For my insurance company, tighter regulations- but more customers. For my health care providers: better payments and more patients, hopefully.This is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful n

I got a no on the grant I applied for, which is sad but okay. If you think that feature narrative films is competitive, try documentaries, which is incredibly competitive! There is a chance of making real art and news with documentaries, plus you get to illuminate a little known part of the world. Ugh. What I ma

In effect, changes the incentives that drive the system and empowers the consumer.The idea : To hold insurance companies accountable and to fire them. If the interstate competition is done properly, increase choice and competition and costs transparency.

That's....breathtaking. The 5% are chronically ill. Yikes. This is what Coburn may have been referring to when he was talking about when he was talking about managing the chronic illness fiscally.

I went to the supermarket to some supplies and also to get in a bike ride that would ease some pressure.The whole health reform summit has been crazy. The only Republican that was sane in that room was Dr. Tom Coburn ( I did not get his name earlier) He was right on a number of points that is not fully expressed

It really that simple,isn't it?

Again, with step back and set this aside. Are we doomed to listening to Republicans spout off talking points and not contributing any ideas?

People are angry because the process was....what? McCain seems to not read his own newspapers in his state- the states papers did report on the health care reform. And hey now, go back to and start over on legislation.Now President Obama notes that this had the most hearings, longest markup on 22 years on a bill

Republicans, enough with the step back issue- this is happening NOW.And moaning about paperwork, and lying again about mandates and the costs. Ugh. Any new ideas?

They were looking for grants to expand their size. 31% of the people they treat is not there for emergency procedures; but they are there for primarty care. Because these people have catastrophic insurance, they have something like 1500-2500 dedcutibles.We must have expansion of community health care centers in

Wow. Interestingly, that would make transparency a cornerstone of the pricing of insurance plans and would hopefully would help contain costs.

Um, excuse me, what is the point of mentioning thousands and thousands of pages of legislation. If that is the case, then it is your job to read it. Your job as Senator and House Rep is to read that legislation. If you cannot do that, maybe you should not be working as a People's rep.

After about an hour and twenty minutes, the public option is finally mentioned- but almost as an aside to explain increased competition and lower costs. It's something.

I missed the Doctor's (Tom Something) name here; he is talking about about prevention, tort reform ( which is related to medical malpractice insurance, needed for many doctors, nurses, and PAs) and incentivize the management of chronic diseases. But that is already in the health care bill.

7.58: Oh, Lamar Alexander,trying to interrupt the President. And with inaccurancies, mind.

Two snaps in Z formation: "Lamar, you are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts."

7.38: Nancy Pelosi is now speaking. She is relating anecdotes of health care costs, and is now noting that the upward spirals of costs is crippling the economy. Pelosi asks us to imagine an economy where people can take risks, start new enterprises and create art, without being shackled to a unfulfilling job, and where comp

7:33- Lamar Alexander is babbling along, but is hitting the Republican talking points: To not use reconcillation to pass the present HCR bills in the Senate, that their plan can save money without widescale, Federal reform.