LOCKDOWN

This Monday I got the entire film class to meet me in the little theater on campus. The class would get a quick introduction to improvisation and character building. At least that was what I told them.

Earlier that day I had Jesse, Alex, and Talal to help me set up the premises for a little short movie project I've had in my mind for quite some time. To stage a classroom lock down, and shoot the students reactions.

So I've got Talal pretending to be a security guard, Alex is the kid gone loco on campus, and Jesse is a sit in art student from Seattle art forum. Jesse had a video camera and, taped the entire thing. I had also talked to a couple if my student; Amy and Tanisha to be the insiders that would help me control the situation, making sure that everybody stayed calm and panicked the entire time. We rigged up the sound intercom, and played a fake message: "there is a level two security risk (which means Virginia tech situation on campus): "everybody keep inside the classroom, and be quiet." We killed the lights and huddled up.

After this we waited about 15 min to do anything else. Then Alex who was already in the backstage area started making noises. Screaming and knocking over things. Everybody freaked out, and we started barracking the backstage doors - somebody was trying to get in to the theater. After five more minutes Talal came in and escalated the matters by saying there is a person of some kind of risk on campus grounds. Before Alex broke the door down, we had to stop it because the students started calling the police and such, and the guys were ready to go in and "whoop some ass" Jesse, the art student, also got heat from videotaping the thing while everybody, including me told him not to.

It was a perfect executed set up, all though it went a bit far. After the session we talked a bit, and the two students involved spoke in front of the class about improvisation and how it was to act in a real environment. I hope it was as educational as it was scary.

BARTMAN - HOW TO GET A DEATHTHREAT

As I was reading through the newest edition of Neewswwek I stumbled over this little disturbing sportsarticle that cracked me up.

The Chicago Cubs were leading the game 3-0, leading the series three games to two, and were five outs away from reaching the World Series for the first time since 1945 and attempting to win it for the first time since 1908.Bartman was sitting in the front row along the left field corner wall behind the bullpen when a pop foul off the bat of Castillo drifted toward his seat. Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou ran over to attempt a catch, reaching up into the seating area, but Bartman, who was watching the ball and not the fielder (like a few other fans next to him), got to the ball first and appeared to knock it away from Alou. Alou slammed his glove down in frustration and was seen shouting in Bartman's direction. The Cubs argued for an interference call, but umpire Mike Everitt ruled that there was no fan interference. Subsequently Bartmans life was ruined.

OBAMA ROADTRIP

The biggest issue in the upcoming November election is by no doubt the war in Iraq. The republican presidential nominee John McCain opposes a drawback of American troops, claiming it will only worsen the situation and threaten the national security further. He opposes the relocation of troops to Afghanistan to fight the re insurgence of Al-Qaeda on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The democratic presidential nominee Barrack Obama has another idea.

Ssg. Lorie Jewell/U.S. Army, via Associated Press

On his trip to the middle east this week, Mr Obama met with Mr Maliki, the prime minister of Iraq , who supports Obama's suggestion of a full drawback by the end of 2010. This pat on the back has given Mr Obama enormous political boost. With the support of Mr Maliki on a withdrawal Obama is sure to get a wider support on the Iraq issue. It seems that McCain is loosing one of his best cards.

It doesn't help that Mr. McCain in an interview earlier referred to the conflict on the borders between Pakistan and Afghanistan as "the conflict on the borders between Iraq and Afghanistan." Showing how deep he is trapped in his own rhetoric spin. This geographical blunder almost compares to his recent "I don't know much about economics" statement. It sure looks dark for Mr. McCain.

Next on his campaign road trip Obama plans to give a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on July 24.

REDNECK VOTE

The discussion about whether to drill for oil on the American coasts or not has gotten extensive media focusand is bound to be a major political issue this November election.

President George Bush promotes offshore drilling as a sollution to the high gas prices and claims it is a matter of national security. With him stands (or sits, depends on how late it is, or if he has had his nap) republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Is offshore drilling the solution, or is just a way to get the rednecks on the republican side?

First of all, there are still untapped domestic oilfields. We don't have to go offshore to drill for more oil. Second, the oil reserves has proximately 21 billion barrels of oil. If the problem can be solved with spilling more oil onto the market, why don't spill some of the reserves, rather than spilling offshore?

Offshore drilling will boost the oil supply, but it will take several years for us to see an effect on the oil prices we see today. Therefor it's clear that the offshore discussion is all about the election. It is all about McCain stealing redneck votes and getting the approval from the big guys in the Oil industry. And the sad thing is that he will get away with this, while the democrats are stuck being the uptight and responsible parent. My plead to the people with the privilege to vote; don't be another redneck vote.

DIESEL DEMAND

Wall Street journal reports a 3.3% decrease in fuel consumption on the American market compared to last years figures. Even though the demand on fuel has gone down, the prices at the pumps are still high.

The problem is that the demand for diesel has increased 6% compared to last years figures keeping the demand for oil at a staggering level. From the beginning of this year gasolin has seen a 30% increase in price while diesel has had a 65 % increase. So when will it end? When will the prices go down?

Michael Waldron from the Lehman Brothers say that "We think oil is set for a significant correction, but it's not likely to occur before the end of this year, or the beginning of next year"

This is based on the speculation that governments will reduce the subsidies that has kept the fuel prices down so far. Another factor that can deflate the fuel prices is the fight against the high inflation that has festered itself over the American economy. This fight will start with a rent increase from the Fed's, making the dollar stronger. As the dollar gains strength, the benefits of a low dollar in the oil exchange disappears, and the demand will slowly go down. The correction of the mighty dollar will come as soon as the financial market calms down and gains faith from the market. When that will happen is still unsure.

TOO BIG TO FAIL

The two biggest financial institutes in America, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was last week dragged out of the raging waters and rescued from the sinking stocks by the ever solvent American government. This rescue has left 2/3 of the lending market in the arms of the big wigs, making the government the largest contributor to the American dream. It seems like the free market powers of the financial markets has been socialized. Is this good, bad or hypocrisy?

Back in the 1990's the American government's response to Japan's major economical collapse, was that the market should figure it self out without the government bailing them out. "No bank was too big to fail." echoed from Washington. The American economy as we see it today has no possibility to survive if this mortgage engine fail, and the repercussions may halt the entire global market in a far severe way than we see nowadays. So all though it reeks of hypocrisy, it's probably best for everyone that the man intervened. And what is so wrong about having the government backing up the financial market?

If a company has the government in it's corner, it has more room for error. They can outbid market competitors because of their liquid advantage of having a money printing machine massaging their shoulders. This is a bad thing, if the government backed company drives the competitors off the field, and creates an unfair monopoly. If the bank fails, and the government must intervene, then the bill will be picked up by the taxpayers with an increase in taxes. What about the positive outlook of this decision?

Giving the government a large piece of the mortgage pie can give them a great possibility to to pursue the social goal of broader home ownership, particularly among racial minorities and back up student loans so that we can educate the nation.

The credit crunch we see today is a direct result of a deregulated financial market. A little regulation can't be bad. And if Ronald Reagan is turning in his grave, the republicans just have to live with it.

The backing of Freddie and Fannie has prevented the economy from falling into an even deeper stage of recession. All though there are pros and cons, and it kind of looks like an abnormality in the usual American way, it's a necessity, and even if we have to pay extra taxes it will be for a greater good. Freddie and Fannie are too big to fail.

UNDERGROUND

Yesterdays field trip with the Upward Bound crew was great fun. We started the day on the traditional yellow school bus, who took us downtown, to the underground-tour. We were lucky to get a funny tour guide.

Who knew Seattle was funded by hard liquor, gambling and prostitution and that at some point 10 % of the population was "seamstresses".

CHANGES

First three weeks of teaching the Upward Bound Class has been great. Learned a lot about American sub-culture and how hard it is for some of these kids, being a minority roughing through high school.

In film class, the script I wrote has been adapted by the kids and made more slang friendly with dialogue in mind. Vaughn also gave a third draft which connected all the dots, and we are good to go. We start shooting next week. The title: changes.

Fourth of July was great fun, we had a barbecue, a couple bottles of white, coronas, and to finish it all off, a late night bar run with Kevin. The Americans know how to blow things up BTW.

Took Jeff's bike and biked around for a couple of hours, got a bit lost, stumbled over a Mexican soccer game, played some hoops, used my last three quarters and bought a coke. Life is wonderful. Biked home, went to the movies and saw WANTED. Excellent.

SPOILED AMERICANS

The media and the commons are having a field day with the current oil crisis. Everybody is cursing, making fists and blaming each other for the sting in their right pocket.

The president, supported by most republicans, wants to drill their way out of the crisis while the democrats seeks more creative ways of solving the stain that is on every blue and white collar in this country. They are both off.

Drilling for more oil and promoting renewable energy are both long term solutions. What we need now is a quick fix. So how do we do that?

Here is a couple of ideas; drive the bus, exercise, ride a bike, carpool, don't drive thru your life, get more information about the situation, sell your car, buy a smaller car, don't go overseas for the holidays (airplanes suck oil for tourist buck)

The solution is consume less oil, the demand goes down, the speculators burn, and price goes down with them.