For the past month, I've been working on an independent movie, which will be primarily for kids, and it stars kids. Some extraordinarily talented kids. Contrary to WC Fields famous remark, working with children has been a grand experience. It's a challenge to be sure, but that's what it's all about in the first place.

So, of course, lots of kids means lots of coughs, red noses and such. Strep, Staf, and other bacterial infections. And, as the 2nd Assistant Director, it's my responsibility to get kids to and from set in an orderly fashion, which means that during a typical day I've held two dozen hands, carried more than a few from here to there in my arms and generally been a human bean bag, playmate and teacher. Human contact squared. And, it's been great and warm fun most of the time to be honest. Unfortunately, for me at least, the downside to such close contact came home to roost this past weekend. It started with a bit of tightness in my chest.

On Monday, I thought, "I can beat this." hoping that it was just a cold, and I went to work as usual, showing up on set at 8AM. By 8:10AM the subway ride to the downtown set alone had pretty much worn me out, and it was becoming very clear that this was no common cold that had invaded my 245 lb. body. The sweats were one thing, I can deal with that, but the dementia and the dizzyness made it obvious that my place was not on set but at home in bed.

Diagnosis: bacterial pneumonia. Nasty. Most likely a strep or staf form. Yuck. So, the past few days have been soup and antibiotics. Luckily, it was a bacterial form, not a viral, and is treatable. Also, my oxygen level, blood pressure and health are excellent, so my immune system was fighting it quite handily. But, being the battleground was a bit scary for a few days there. Waking up at 3AM soaked in sweat and not recognizing your own bedroom is an odd experience...

The doctors said that bacterial pneumonia is fairly common these days, 2 million cases a year, with up to 70,000 resulting in death. So, stay safe. If you feel tightness in the chest and have a fever and or a cough, don't mess around. Get thee to a doctor. Tis the season for mini edidemics, as the school year has just begun. I know that many of us here work with children in one fashion or another, so passing the word.

And, remember, some of the strains of bacterial infections are resistant to traditional antibiotics and treatments. So, heed the warning signs and get to a doc early if you have any of the symptoms.

SNAFU Principle | 2:41 PM | 6 comments | link

"Slam Bush is a groundbreaking national contest for MCs and Slam Poets that will prevent George W. Bush from snatching another term in office. This summer the nation's most talented battle MCs and Slam Poets will step to the mic in battleground states to call George W. Bush out on his lies. The top lyricists will win cash prizes and earn a chance to perform in front of music industry insiders."

mobius ba'aretz | 7:11 AM | comment | link

George W Bush

Richie NaughtyBunny | 9:05 PM | comment | link

Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Wray, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Kenneth L. Wainstein announced this week Operation Digital Gridlock.

"Today's actions send an important message to those who steal over the Internet. When online thieves illegally distribute copyrighted programs and products, they put the livelihoods of millions of hard-working Americans at risk and damage our economy,"

said Attorney General John Ashcroft.

"The execution of today's warrants disrupted an extensive peer-to-peer network suspected of enabling users to traffic illegally in music, films, software and published works. The Department of Justice is committed to enforcing intellectual property laws, and we will pursue those who steal copyrighted materials even when they try to hide behind the false anonymity of peer-to-peer networks."

5 homes and one internet service provider were raided, all involved in an network being referred to as "the Underground Network". The network uses Neo-Modus technology, also requiring users to share more than 100 gigabytes of computer files with other users on the network.

Maximum penalty for criminal copyright infringement in violation of Title 17, United States Code, Section 506 and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2319, for a first-time offender is 5 years incarceration and a fine of $250,000. Title 17, United States Code, Section 506, also provides for the forfeiture and the destruction of the pirated copies and all equipment-including the computer equipment-used in the manufacture of the pirated materials.

"Today we are sending a clear message that federal law enforcement takes piracy seriously..... It is illegal to trade in copyright-protected materials on the Internet. This is theft, plain and simple. If you are engaged in this behavior, you are on notice that you are not as anonymous as you may think."

said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein.

Operation Digital Gridlock

"is the first such investigation against the criminal copyright infringement using computer networks"

said a representative for the DOJ. Filing companies and P2P networks, based on a court ruling last week, are not to be held liable for providing technology being that they can't actually control what users are doing with their software.

The RIAA will continue to sue individual copyright criminals.

Jughead Jones | 3:48 PM | 2 comments | link

John Perry Barlow and friends will be disrupting the RNC in quite possibly the most disturbing way possible: dancing.

We will want to choose eruption zones carefully for maximum Republican contact, pedestrian density, unpredictability, and lack of duplication.

This sounds like the most fun action I can imagine given the paranoia level surrounding the RNC.

Foozmeat | 4:25 PM | 7 comments | link

Not suprisingly, A second connection between the Bush Campaign and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has n ow been revealed. Apparently, an attorney for the Bush Campaign was also advising the Swift Boat Veterans on their commercials. Sit back and watch the spin on this one



McGoo | 11:24 AM | comment | link

This is cool, and it's in NYC (soon to be West Coasted): Yellowarrow! This half-graffiti-half-tourguide-half-interactive art project allows anyone to stick a SMS-tagged yellow arrow sticker to any urban monument and upload their ideas about that monument to yellowarrow.org. To retrieve these ideas, passerbyers send a textmessage to Yellowarrow including the yellow sticker's alphanumeric code. Yellowarrow then returns the goods.

What feature of your city would you annotate if you could only choose one?

Little Package | 9:33 PM | 2 comments | link

Just thought I'd bring this forward in discussion:

A man was fired from his job for heckling Bush at a rally, Yay for free speech. (sarcasm)

Here's the link

McGoo | 11:16 PM | 12 comments | link

My friend Chris Mis' band, Swinger Eight, is performing tonight at 10:30PM at the Trash Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 256 Grand Street between Driggs and Roebling. Show up if you can, fun time.

SNAFU Principle | 3:40 PM | comment | link

Always remember, shit flows downhill.

"You realize that what you are doing is risky," said a US Army major, whose last name was Robertson. "That shrine might not be around much longer." Does anyone comprehend the ramifications of destroying holy sites? Seems not.

The problem with the Bush Administration's "first strike" policy, is that it rubs both ways, and when it's open policy, rather than back door, it alienates allies and encourages enemies to strike first. Case in point No. 1. Case in point No. 2. This is just the beginning. It's only going to get worse. The genie is out of the bottle.

Related to the above, the US House of Representatives voted 376-3 to support a first strike against Iran.

SNAFU Principle | 3:10 PM | 2 comments | link