Fast Food Workers Plan To Strike Nationwide Thursday

 
NEW YORK — Fast-food customers in search of burgers and fries on Thursday might run into striking workers instead.
Organizers say thousands of fast-food workers are set to stage walkouts in dozens of cities around the country, part of a push to get chains such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to pay workers higher wages.
It's expected be the largest nationwide strike by fast-food workers, according to organizers. The biggest effort so far was over the summer when about 2,200 of the nation's millions of fast-food workers staged a one-day strike in seven cities.
Thursday's planned walkouts follow a series of strikes that began last November in New York City, then spread to cities including Chicago, Detroit and Seattle. Workers say they want $15 an hour, which would be about $31,000 a year for full-time employees. That's more than double the federal minimum wage, which many fast food workers make, of $7.25 an hour, or $15,000 a year.
The move comes amid calls from the White House, some members of Congress and economists to hike the federal minimum wage, which was last raised in 2009. But most proposals seek a far more modest increase than the ones workers are asking for, with President Barack Obama wanting to boost it to $9 an hour.
The push has brought considerable media attention to a staple of the fast-food industry – the so-called "McJobs" that are known for their low pay and limited prospects. But the workers taking part in the strikes still represent a tiny fraction of the broader industry. And it's not clear if the strikes on Thursday will shut down any restaurants because organizers made their plans public earlier in a call for workers around the country to participate, which gave managers time to adjust their staffing levels. More broadly, it's not clear how many customers are aware of the movement, with turnout for past strikes relatively low in some cities.
Laila Jennings, a 29-year-old sales associate at T.J. Maxx, was eating at a McDonald's in New York City this week and said she hadn't heard of the movement. Still, she said she thinks workers should be paid more. "They work on their feet all day," Jennings said, adding that $12 to $15 an hour seemed fair.
As it stands, fast-food workers say they can't live on what they're paid.
Shaniqua Davis, 20, lives in the Bronx with her boyfriend, who is unemployed, and their 1-year-old daughter. Davis has worked at a McDonald's a few blocks from her apartment for the past three months, earning $7.25 an hour. Her schedule varies, but she never gets close to 40 hours a week. "Forty? Never. They refuse to let you get to that (many) hours."

Her weekly paycheck is $150 or much lower. "One of my paychecks, I only got $71 on there. So I wasn't able to do much with that. My daughter needs stuff, I need to get stuff for my apartment," said Davis, who plans to take part in the strike Thursday.
She pays the rent with public assistance but struggles to afford food, diapers, subway and taxi fares, cable TV and other expenses with her paycheck.
"It's really hard," she said. "If I didn't have public assistance to help me out, I think I would have been out on the street already with the money I make at McDonald's."
McDonald's Corp. and Burger King Worldwide Inc. say that they don't make decisions about pay for the independent franchisees that operate the majority of their U.S. restaurants.
For the restaurants it does own, McDonald's said in a statement that pay starts at minimum wage but the range goes higher, depending on the employee's position and experience level. It said that raising entry-level wages would mean higher overall costs, which could result in higher prices on menus.
"That would potentially have a negative impact on employment and business growth in our restaurants, as well as value for our customers," the company said in a statement.
The Wendy's Co. and Yum Brands Inc., which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, did not respond to a request for comment.
The National Restaurant Association says the low wages reflect the fact that most fast-food workers tend to be younger and have little work experience. Scott DeFife, a spokesman for the group, says that doubling wages would hurt job creation, noting that fast-food chains are already facing higher costs for ingredients, as well as new regulations that will require them to pay more in health care costs.
Still, the actions are striking a chord in some corners.
Robert Reich, a worker advocate and former Labor Secretary in the Clinton administration, said that the struggles of living on low wages is hitting close to home for many because of the weak economic climate.
"More and more, people are aware of someone either in their wider circle of friends or extended family who has fallen on hard times," Reich said.
Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, which is providing the fast-food strikes with financial support and training, said the actions in recent months show that fast-food workers can be mobilized, despite the industry's relatively higher turnover rates and younger age.
"The reality has totally blown through the obstacles," she said.

Massive Dust Storm Blows Through Phoenix

PHOENIX (AP) - Another dust storm and thunderstorm blew through the Phoenix metropolitan area after heavy rain fell on many parts of western Arizona.

Winds from an approaching storm system around sundown Monday pushed a hazy brown cloud over most of the Phoenix area. The dust storm brought winds gusts up to 60 mph as visibility dropped below a 1/4 mile in some areas. There were reports of some downed power lines and trees in Tempe, but no immediate reports of any injuries.

Arizona's monsoon season begins in mid-June and runs through Sept. 30 and has produced massive dust storms called "haboobs" in recent years. Much of western Arizona was under a flash flood watch Monday.

People across the region uploaded photos on the phenomenon to Twitter; click the link below to see some of the images.

J.C. Chasez: 'NSYNC Reunion Was Justin Timberlake's Idea

 
It all started with a phone call from Justin Timberlake.

J.C. Chasez revealed on Monday that 'NSYNC's big reunion at the VMAs was all Timberlake's idea.

"It was just a matter of time. Everybody would ask us, 'When are you guys going to do something?' " Chasez said Monday on On Air with Ryan Seacrest. "First of all, it was the worst-kept secret ever, [but] Justin gave me a buzz and he said, 'Hey man, listen. I'm getting this award and they have given me a pile of time to perform and we started our careers at MTV and I think we should get the band back together."

Timberlake was receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and Chasez says he wanted to acknowledge his time with the boy band, "so we all decided to do it."



Even though it's been 11 years since 'NSYNC broke up, Chasez admits that when they all got together to rehearse for the performance, "two minutes after seeing everybody you feel like no time has passed."

But the same couldn't be said for remembering their iconic dance moves.

"Everyone was going, 'Can we go through this one more time slowly?' … So that part was pretty funny."

Ty Carter receives Medal of Honor for heroics in battle with Taliban

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama bestowed nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, on Army Staff Sgt. Ty Carter on Monday, saluting the veteran of the war in Afghanistan as "the essence of true heroism," one still engaged in a battle against the lingering emotional fallout of war.
Carter risked his life to save an injured soldier, resupply ammunition to his comrades and render first aid during intense fighting in a remote mountain outpost four years ago.
"As these soldiers and families will tell you, they're a family forged in battle, and loss, and love," Obama said as Carter stood at his side and members of his unit watched in the White House East Room.
Then as an Army specialist, Carter sprinted from his barracks into a ferocious firefight, a day-long battle on Oct. 3, 2009, that killed eight of his fellow soldiers as they tried to defend their outpost – at the bottom of a valley and surrounded by high mountains – from the onslaught of a much larger force of Taliban and local fighters.
Still suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, Carter stood nearly emotionless during the ceremony, although a faint smile crossed his face near the end that turned into a broad grin as Obama hung the metal and its blue ribbon around his neck and the audience – which included 40 members of the recipient's family – answered with a rousing standing ovation.
Later, Carter told reporters outside the White House that receiving the medal had been "one of the greatest experiences" for his family and that he would "strive to live up to the responsibility."
He also said he wanted to help the American public to better understand the "invisible wounds" still inflicting him and thousands of others.
"Only those closest to me can see the scars," Carter said, reading his statement. He said Americans should realize that those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome "are not damaged, they are just burdened by living when others are not."
Obama praised Carter for talking openly about the disorder for some time. Obama said that Carter, like many veterans, "at first resisted seeking help," but later accepted counseling.
"The pain of that day ... may never go away," Obama said, including flash-backs and nightmares. But he praised Carter for seeking help and pushing back, and for acknowledging his struggle publicly and helping other troops with their recovery.
"Let me say it as clearly as I can to any of our troops or veterans who are watching and struggling," Obama said. "Look at this man. Look at this soldier. Look at this warrior. He's as tough as they come, and if he can find the courage and the strength to not only seek help but also to speak out about it, to take care of himself and to stay strong, then so can you."
The battle, one of the fiercest of the war in Afghanistan, occurred while Carter was stationed at Command Outpost Keating in the eastern part of the country. The roughly 53 U.S. troops at the outpost were at first overpowered by 300 or more Taliban fighters. But despite overwhelming numerical odds and "blizzards of bullets and steel," Carter and his fellow soldiers "pushed the enemy back. The soldiers retook their camp."
In February, Obama bestowed the Medal of Honor on another survivor of that firefight, former Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha. It was the first time since the Vietnam War that two living soldiers of the same battle were presented with the Medal of Honor.
Carter, 33, is a former Marine who later enlisted in the Army and is currently assigned to the 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
He grew up in Spokane, Wash., and also has received a Purple Heart and many other military medals.
___
Follow Tom Raum on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tomraum

Farmers' Almanac Predicts 'Bitterly Cold' Winter

EWISTON, Maine (AP) - The Farmers' Almanac is using words like "piercing cold," ''bitterly cold" and "biting cold" to describe the upcoming winter. And if its predictions are right, the first outdoor Super Bowl in years will be a messy "Storm Bowl."

The 197-year-old publication that hits newsstands Monday predicts a winter storm will hit the Northeast around the time the Super Bowl is played at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands in New Jersey. It also predicts a colder-than-normal winter for two-thirds of the country and heavy snowfall in the Midwest, Great Lakes and New England.

"We're using a very strong four-letter word to describe this winter, which is C-O-L-D. It's going to be very cold," said Sandi Duncan, managing editor.

Based on planetary positions, sunspots and lunar cycles, the almanac's secret formula is largely unchanged since founder David Young published the first almanac in 1818.

Modern scientists don't put much stock in sunspots or tidal action, but the almanac says its forecasts used by readers to plan weddings and plant gardens are correct about 80 percent of the time.

Last year, the forecast called for cold weather for the eastern and central U.S. with milder temperatures west of the Great Lakes. It started just the opposite but ended up that way.

Caleb Weatherbee, the publication's elusive prognosticator, said he was off by only a couple of days on two of the season's biggest storms: a February blizzard that paralyzed the Northeast with 3 feet of snow in some places and a sloppy storm the day before spring's arrival that buried parts of New England.

Readers who put stock in the almanac's forecasts may do well to stock up on long johns, especially if they're lucky enough to get tickets to the Super Bowl on Feb. 2. The first Super Bowl held outdoors in a cold-weather environment could be both super cold and super messy, with a big storm due Feb. 1 to 3, the almanac says.

Said Duncan: "It really looks like the Super Bowl may be the Storm Bowl."

The Maine-based Farmers' Almanac, not to be confused with the New Hampshire-based Old Farmer's Almanac, which will be published next month, features a mix of corny jokes, gardening tips, nostalgia and home remedies, like feeding carrots to dogs to help with bad breath and using mashed bananas to soothe dry, cracked skin in the winter.

Also in this year's edition, editor Peter Geiger is leading a campaign to get people to ditch the penny, like Canada is doing.

Past campaigns have focused on moving Thanksgiving to harvest time in October, reconsidering "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem and changing the color of money. This time, Geiger thinks he has a winner.

He wants people to donate pennies to charity and then lobby Congress to stop making them.

"They don't get used very much. They get tossed. The only real use of a penny is if you save tens of thousands of them, then you can use them to help someone," he said.

VMAs 2013 Best and Worst Dressed: Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and More

One of our favorite award show red carpets is the MTV Video Music Awards, which never disappoints in bringing a variety of fashion hits, flops and risks like no other event.

So many celebs at the VMAs subscribe to the notion of "go big or go home" and the styles are usually a feast (or faux pas) for the eyes.

Picking the 2013 VMA best dressed and worst dressed is no easy task, but we're up for the challenge!

Check out our picks and let us know what your favorite (and least favorite) looks were.

Worst Dressed: Katy Perry had a lot going on with her dress, sporting a leopard-print (roar!) body hugging turtleneck encrusted with loads of golden bling. Spot off! We loved, loved, loved her hair and makeup though.

Best Dressed: Ellie Goulding wowed in her gorgeous studded gown, showing off plenty of leg and a super sexy hairstyle. This is the kind of rock-inspired fashion risk we love to see at the VMAs.

Worst Dressed: Ariana Grande was as cute as ever, but her mega flirty floral mini dress kind of underperformed in terms of red carpet wow factor. Ariana played it a little too safe.

Best Dressed: Snooki has honestly never looked better. We loved her slinky black dress that combined a classy floor-length gown with a top that revealed plenty of skin. Her red hair even matched the VMA carpet!

Worst Dressed: Miley Cyrus went with black hot pants and a bare midriff (tribute to Britney?), but the look fell as flat as...her abs. She revved it up with some blingy jeweled detailing and topped it all off with a horn-inspired hairdo.

Best Dressed: Lady Gaga didn't arrive in an egg or wear a meat dress, and we loved her understated red carpet look. Gaga wore a figure flattering floor-length black dress with a pretty train and floppy bow at the waist.

Worst Dressed: Oh, Lil' Kim, where do we begin with this fashion nightmare? The skintight outfit, the giant shiny belt buckle, or the outrageously horrific shoes? There's just so much wrong here.

Best Dressed: Naya Rivera is a fashion goddess, showing off her excellent taste again and again on the red carpet. She didn't let us down at the VMAs, taking the black dress and dialing it up a notch.

Worst Dressed: Taylor Swift channeled old Hollywood in a jewel-toned dress that hugged her curves and showed off plenty with the plunging neckline--but we think she missed the mark given the less formal vibe at the VMAs. Her vintage hairstyle missed the mark too.

Best Dressed: Selena Gomez looked sleek and gorgeous in her long dark blue gown, with sparkly detailing and yes, a little sexy element at the top with a revealing peek. We couldn't get over her amazing hair and makeup too. Beautiful!

Worst Dressed: Rita Ora's black and white dress with the mega feathery train was just...no. There was so much plumage, it required a handler to chase her around and fan it out on the red carpet.

Best Dressed: Ciara flaunted a gorgeous balance of covering up strategically while showing plenty of skin beneath with sheer material. The feathers at the bottom and beautiful romantic hair style were icing on the cake.

The FIRST picture of North West

Russell Simmons

The FIRST picture of North West! --> http://bit.ly/1dawPT4

 

GLOBAL GRIND Breaking news~~~~

 

Jennifer Lopez's Stalker Spent Six Nights In Her Hamptons Home Undetected

Jennifer Lopez had an unexpected and uninvited guest stay in her Hamptons home.
John Dubis, a 49-year-old former fireman, allegedly settled into the guest house of J.Lo’s $10 million Water Mill home in early August for six days without being noticed by Lopez's security guards, reports the Southampton Patch. Dubis slept on a couch and parked his car out front in plain sight of her security, according to sources.
According to the New York Post, a Lopez employee finally spotted him and confronted him on Aug. 8. The accused stalker tried to claim he was the divorced singer’s husband and he told the police that he was the father of J.Lo's children, so she had been allowing him to stay in the pool house. He was taken in for psychiatric evaluation.

Fan Reacts To Alexander Skarsgard's Beauty In The Only Way She Knows How

One "True Blood" fan asked for an autograph from nudity-friendly Alexander Skarsgard, but then, as would be the case with most of his fans, had no idea what to do. She stopped. She stared. She took in his beauty. She was awed.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to Retire Within a Year

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Microsoft shares are soaring this morning on the news that longtime CEO Steve Ballmer will retire within 12 months.

In a statement, Microsoft (MSFT) said that Ballmer will retire once the board finds a new chief executive to replace him. The search process will be overseen by a special committee appointed by the board of directors, and will include Microsoft chairman and former CEO Bill Gates.

"We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team," said Ballmer in a statement. "My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company's transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction."

That "new strategy" refers to a restructuring announced by the company last month, which will include dividing the company into four primary engineering divisions.

That organization shake-up came in response to what's been an undeniably tumultuous period for the company, which missed the boat on mobile and tablets and has struggled to play catch-up. It's seen a chilly reception for Windows 8, the latest iteration of its flagship operating system. And sales of its tablet, the Surface, have likewise been disappointing, leading the company to make radical price cuts earlier this month.

And while it's kept its head above water on the strength of its Xbox and Office businesses, there are signs of danger ahead: Its next generation console, the Xbox One, didn't go over well with gamers when it was announced in the spring.

We put Ballmer on our list of endangered executives for 2013, and now it seems the company's struggles have finally caught up to him. Microsoft shares are already soaring on the news, opening the morning up 8 percent.

And much like Andrew Mason, who saw his holdings of Groupon stock soar in value upon his ouster from the company, Ballmer will also see a windfall from his retirement. According to one report, Ballmer has 333 million shares of Microsoft, so the share price bump resulting from his retirement has already made him about $840 million richer.

Matt Brownell is the consumer and retail reporter for DailyFinance. You can reach him at Matt.Brownell@teamaol.com, and follow him on Twitter at @Brownellorama.

Anthony Yahle, Ohio Man, Comes Back To Life After Being Declared Dead

Lawrence Yahle refused to believe his dad was dead -- and he was right.
The 17-year-old Ohio resident rushed into his father Anthony's Kettering Medical Center hospital room after doctors told him his dad could not be revived, according to ABC News.
"Dad, you're not going to die today," Yahle said as he burst into the room.
"Moments later," ABC News reports, Anthony Yahle's heart monitor "showed signs of life," and doctors were able to successfully revive him, 45 minutes after his heart had stopped beating and he had been declared dead.
WHIO reports that, on Aug. 10, five days after Yahle's irregular breathing prompted his wife to take him to the hospital, the West Carrollton man was back at home, recovering with a defibrillator in his chest.
“I have no memory of anything," Yahle told WHIO. "I went to bed … woke up five days later in the hospital.”
Yahle told WFAA that he and his family experienced a "miracle."
"Everybody started telling me how it happened," Yahle said. "That's when I started to understand, you know, a miracle happened

Robert Bales, U.S. Soldier Who Pled Guilty To Afghanistan Massacre, Faces Victims At Court Sentencing

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — A brother of the U.S. soldier who slaughtered 16 Afghan civilians last year began making the case Wednesday for why he should one day be eligible for parole, portraying him as a patriotic American and indulgent father who let his son put ranch dressing on chocolate chip pancakes.
"There's no better father that I've seen," William Bales said of his younger brother, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales. "If you brought the kids in here today, they'd run right to him."
Sgt. Bales, 39, pleaded guilty in June in a deal to avoid the death penalty, acknowledging that he killed 16 people, mostly women and children, during unsanctioned, solo, pre-dawn raids on two villages March 11, 2012. A jury is deciding whether he should be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, or without it.
The picture painted by the first defense witness, William Bales, 55, severely contradicted that portrayed by the soldier's admissions as well as by the testimony of nine Afghan villagers, including victims and their relatives, about the horror Bales wrought.
Defense attorneys hope the contrast will convince jurors that Bales simply snapped after four combat deployments and deserves leniency.
William Bales repeatedly referred to his sibling – once the captain of his high school football team and class president in Norwood, Ohio, where they grew up – as "my baby brother" and "Bobby."
He described how as a teenager his brother cared for a developmentally disabled neighborhood boy, assisting him with basic life functions. The boy's father also testified how helpful Bales was.
"I don't know too many 16-, 17-year-old boys who could do that," William Bales said.
He also described how the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, changed "good-time Bobby" and how he soon thereafter enlisted in the Army.

Prosecutors noted, however, that Bales was also facing a fraud lawsuit when he enlisted. An arbitrator eventually imposed a $1.5 million judgment against Bales and his former stockbroking company.
One of Bale's lawyers, John Henry Browne, said after court Wednesday that his client will speak to the jury at the end of the case, and he will offer an apology for his crimes.
On Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, nine Afghan villagers who traveled about 7,000 miles to testify at the hearing in traditional garb spoke of their lives since the attacks.
Haji Mohammad Wazir lost 11 family members, including his mother, wife and six of his seven children. He told the six-member jury that the attacks destroyed what had been a happy life. He was in another village with his youngest son, now 5-year-old Habib Shah, during the attack.
"If someone loses one child, you can imagine how devastated their life would be," said Wazir, who received $550,000 in condolence payments from the U.S. government, out of $980,000 paid in all. His son, now 5, "misses everyone. He hasn't forgotten any of them."
"I've gone through very hard times," he added. "If anybody speaks to me about the incident ... I feel the same, like it's happening right now."
Wazir and a cousin, Khamal Adin, didn't get to say everything they wanted to in court. Each asked for permission to speak after the prosecutors' questions were finished, but the judge said it wasn't allowed.
On Tuesday, a farmer who was shot in the neck cursed Bales before pleading with the prosecutor to ask him no more questions.
"This bastard stood right in front of me!" the farmer, Haji Mohammad Naim, testified, through an interpreter. "I wanted to ask him, `What did I do? What have I done to you?' ... and he shot me!"
Browne said Wednesday that on his way out of the courtroom, Naim used an even angrier quote directed at Bales about exacting revenge upon his mother.
Bales' attorneys, who have said the soldier suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, didn't cross-examine any of the Afghan witnesses.
Two military doctors testified Wednesday, describing the treatment of Bales' victims, including a young girl who had been shot in the head and spent three months undergoing surgeries and rehabilitation at a naval hospital in San Diego, relearning how to walk.
Bales, a father of two from Lake Tapps, Wash., was serving his fourth combat deployment when he left the outpost at Camp Belambay in the pre-dawn darkness. He first attacked one village, returning to Belambay only when he realized he was low on ammunition, said prosecutor Lt. Col. Jay Morse.
Bales then left to attack another village.
The massacre prompted such angry protests that the U.S. temporarily halted combat operations, and it was three weeks before Army investigators could reach the crime scene.
A former brigade commander in Afghanistan, Col. Todd Wood, told the jury about arriving at Belambay the morning of the attack to find an angry crowd outside, with four makeshift trucks carrying 13 of the bodies.
Halting combat operations in the area allowed Taliban personnel to openly carry weapons and lay roadside bombs, Wood said.
At the time of the killings, Bales had been under heavy personal, professional and financial stress, Morse said. He had complained to other soldiers that his wife was fat and unattractive and said he'd divorce her except that her father had money. He had stopped paying the mortgage on one of his houses and he was upset that he had not been promoted.
During his plea hearing in June, Bales couldn't explain to a judge why he committed the killings. "There's not a good reason in this world for why I did the horrible things I did," he said.
If he is sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, Bales would be eligible in 20 years, but there's no guarantee he would receive it. He will receive life with parole unless at least five of the six jurors say otherwise.
Thursday's testimony is expected to focus on Bales' mental health.

All Access: Mayweather vs. Canelo - Episode 1 Preview

The premiere of All Access: Floyd Mayweather vs. Saul "EL CANELO" Alvarez (OFICIAL) at 10p ET/7p PT followed by two world title fights. What a night Saturday will be! (CC: Golden Boy Boxing, Mayweather Promotions)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cLEk6Odv-fQ#t=18

THE AFFAIR - The Movie "KICKSTARTER Project"

 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/633012328/the-affair-the-movie?ref=live

THE AFFAIR - The Movie

THE AFFAIR is a film about infidelity and how far two people will go to heal. A cinema verite expérience shot solely on the IPhone..



Donate today lets make history~~~

NCIS TV Director to Shoot Provocative Indie Drama Exclusively on iPhone 5

The Affair Movie Trailer

JoeTV Helmer and Indie Filmmaker Craig Ross Jr., best known for directing episodic television shows such as NCIS, BONES, and PRISON BREAK, has teamed up with his wife, Actress/Producer Caryn Ward Ross (He’s Mine Not Yours, BET’S The Game) for what is sure to be a new frontier in digital filmmaking

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) July 24, 2013 - The filmmaking duo are having an affair: on the traditional way of making movies that is Mr. and Mrs. Ross are pushing the boundaries on technology and marital woes in a groundbreaking noir drama shot exclusively on the iPhone 5---using only natural light and a minimum crew.

THE AFFAIR is a sexy character-driven drama that explores the depth of sexuality, temptation, lust and human perceptions."The film is essentially an exploration of what we perceive true love to be, and what happens when your perception of that is fundamentally shattered," says writer/director Craig Ross Jr.

Caryn Ward Ross stars as Simone Waite, a woman on the verge of disaster in her marriage who meets a man who is at the end of his rope in his own marriage; and together they have an explosive, tumultuous affair that leaves their lives forever changed  "I’ve never, ever portrayed a character like Simone, and this film is the most exciting and emotionally dangerous role for me to date," says Caryn Ward Ross.  "We knew this type of story would be very difficult to tell through traditional Hollywood channels, and as a filmmaker nothing excites me more than bringing this cinema verite' experience to light through digital elements that weren’t available three years ago," says Craig Ross Jr.  The always-evolving nature of the technology used in making films has increased the capabilities and scope in which filmmakers can portray their visions and interpretations of the stories they tell. Making a film with an iPhone 5 as the only means of shooting is a testament to this, but also features a minimalist approach that allows the film to be driven by the riveting storyline and character development.

The stylized, experimental feature film will be shot over a 10-day period in Los Angeles, CA.

A kickstarter campaign to fund the movie launches on July 23, 2013. "This is a passion project where we are looking for ultimate creative freedom, and a direct collaboration with our friends and audience seems like the perfect fit," added Mr. Ross.

Visitors to the Kickstarter page can learn more about the film, connect with its social media pages and donate to the project.

 

The Affair Movie Trailer

Fox Won't Reshoot 'Dads' Despite Requests And Racist Charges

Fox won't reshoot portions of its upcoming comedy "Dads," despite charges of racism, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
After Fox sent out the pilot for review, TV critics began taking aim at the show's racially-charged brand of humor and the portrayal of one particular Asian-American character, played by "Social Network" star and Disney Channel alumna Brenda Song. She appears in a "Sailor Moon"-like anime outfit in one instance and in another, Martin Mull's character even calls Asians "Orientals."
Media Action Network for Asian Americans asked Fox to replace to "racial" and "sexual" stereotypical content in the "Dads" pilot before the show premiered, but the network issued a letter asking the watchdog group to give the show a chance.
"You will see that Brenda Song's character is a strong, intelligent, empowered young woman who basically runs the company, and who almost always gets the upper hand on the guys," Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly and COO Joe Earley said in a letter obtained by THR.
"This is a show that will be evocative and will poke fun at stereotypes and bigotries -- sometimes through over-the-top, ridiculous situations," the letter continues. "The series is based heavily on the executive producers’ own lives, and the relationships between the fathers and sons on 'Dads' will continue to be the main driver of show’s comedic sensibility. Everyone involved with 'Dads' is striving to create a series with humor that works on multiple levels and 'earns' its audaciousness. That said, we do recognize comedy is subjective, and we may not be able to please everyone, all the time."
At the Television Critics Association Summer 2013 press tour earlier this month, "Dads" co-executive producer Alec Sulkin admitted some things in the pilot needed to be tweaked moving forward. "If we missed the mark in the pilot, we're trying to hit it better in upcoming shows," he added.
And at the time, Reilly said, "If this show still has low-hanging jokes ... and the characters have not become full-blown over the next few months, the show will not work."
For more on the "Dads" controversy, click over to THR.