Blog about Ginger

I recently purchased “The Bela Lugosi Box” and have started watching the films. I own about 30 of his films and this set has 15 of them. Lugosi has been revered as a good actor, but I don’t know. If you gave him better films, he would still come off as sort of campy. Even his best known film “Dracula” from 1931 has its campy moments.

Don’t get me wrong. I like the guy. Why would I buy a box set of his films if I didn’t? It’s just for acting chops Boris Karloff and Vincent Price have better skills. Even Christopher Lee is better.

Anyway, this set is fun for quite a few laughs and it has three of those dreaded Ed Wood films which I think are great in their campiness, so watch and enjoy or bevare!!Regards,
Mark Arnold
http://funideas.home.att.net

Today (after 3pm) the European Parliament is debating the TRIPs Agreement and its impact on access to medicines. It seems that the EP is putting together a series of questions to the European Council and Commission.

Last week’s Financial Times reported that a group of MEPs, led by Italian Liberal Gianluca Susta, think that “The only long-term solution is to give these countries . . . the ability to provide for the health needs of their population. That means helping them build up their own production and research facilities.”
The MEPs want to see funding from the EU to set up these facilities, but the Commission does not agree. If the funding is not forthcoming, the MEPs have threatened to block the conversion of the 2003 temporary compulsory licensing waiver under the TRIPs Agreement into a permanent measure.

The IPKat can see how the MEPs’ measures would benefit less developed countries. However, he can equally well see why Europe-based pharmaceutical companies will be less than chuffed by an institution that is backed by the governments of the countries in which they are based subsidising their competitors.

It has recently come to my attention that some of the partners who attended my session at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Denver, Colorado last Tuesday were less than pleased with one of the slides I selected in my presentation entitled: Adding a Security Offering to Your Business. I wanted to sincerely apologize to everyone with regards to my slide choice for an example of “good marketing”. It was not my intention to offend any of our wonderful Microsoft Partners, whom I’ve come to know and love in my 8 years at Microsoft, including being a charter member of Microsoft’s wildly popular and successful TS2 Seminars Program. The slide was merely a poor attempt at using humor to illustrate a concept. I take my role as a Sr. Security Strategist within Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing team very seriously. As I mentioned during the presentation, I am absolutely not a “Sales Guy” and choose to discuss topics at business level. I hold the position of Trusted Advisor to be crucial to the success of the security profession, whether you’re selling Microsoft solutions or PTZ cameras to monitor your building’s perimeter. The tenets of security are unchanging, and security is about far more than selling. It’s about providing protection to someone or something. If you attended the session expecting to hear someone from Microsoft tell you how to Sell! Sell! Sell!, then you and I both got some bad info when were asked to attend this session. For those in attendance, I sincerely hope that my passion for this field was conveyed and that you left with a few new things to consider, that you couldn’t just read on the MS Partner website. I spent a majority of my adult life in the 75th Ranger Regiment, jumpmastering C-130s for night jumps and leading my squad/platoon/company in live-fire exercises. I know what security is about, and what it is not about, and I’ve seen what can happen when it’s not provided adequately. Again, sincerest apologies for the use of the slide and I hope that the good far outweighed the bad. I look forward to seeing, and especially hearing from, all of you at the various security conferences around the world. I appreciate all the hard work that you guys do out there in the field and please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you feel that I’ve erred in any way. Still spreading the Partner Love, - Kai

New York’s new fee schedule for drugs dispensed to workers comp claimants is among the lowest in the nation.

How low?
Multiple-source drugs with a Federal Upper Limit: at FUL
Multiple-source drugs with no FUL: lower of Estimated Acquisition Cost (EAC) or pharmacy’s usual/customer charge.
EAC for branded drugs = AWP less 13.25%
EAC for generics = AWP less 20%

If there is no FUL, NY Medicaid is authorized to establish a maximum acquisition cost.

(NY Social Service Law § 367-a.)

PBMs will be hardpressed to make any money on brands, but may do OK on generics. Remember, most drugs dispensed for workers comp are generics.

But that is not the case for brands. I would expect that payers will be asked to pay PBMs an admin fee for handling brand drugs, an admin fee that will make this at least a break-even for PBMs. There is precedence here; when California implemented their own fee schedule change, many payers recognized that the pricing was insufficient to keep PBMs in the market and agreed to pay a surcharge to their PBM for CA scripts.

And no, there is no evidence that somehow PBMs were getting money under the table in CA, and it isn’t going to happen in NY either. For a very simple reason - there is no money to give.

Speaking of restaurants opening in Bel Air, it looks like the DuClaw Brewing Company has set a reopening date for August. This news comes courtesy of the DuClaw Brewing Company’s Bel Air Blog. The blog, which chronicles the reconstruction, is written with a healthy dose of humor for an restaurant shut down by fire last year. Check it out here.

No, no — not like that. I’m talking about the literal French translation: household of three.

Some of you know that Todd and I are roommates. Some of you also know we’ve lived together for three years (four if you count the same dorm first year of college). Most of you probably do not know we have a third living companion, referred to once or twice on these pages as OtherRoommate. I don’t write about her that much because we never see each other, let alone hang out. Most of our communication is electronic: via e-mail or inter-office messaging. (We work at the same place, but don’t interact much in person there either.)

In the year or so after college that I lived in Podunk before returning to civilization last fall, I would visit OtherRoommate most weekends and we’d go out and get shitty. Sometimes LawSchoolFriend and Todd would come, but LSF doesn’t party as hard (I guess “school” is “important” to her) and Todd went away a lot of weekends to visit a certain individual of whom we no longer speak except to say, “Oh yeah — I totally forgot he ever was a part of your life,” followed by periods of uncontrollable laughter. (OK, so that’s usually me doing the saying/laughing while Todd scowls.) OtherRoommate and I were partners in crime.

Some time over the past several months of living together, the dynamic shifted. OtherRoommate, like me, has a habit of closing herself off from others to brood, recharge, whatever. I try not to do that with those close to me (i.e. roommates), but sometimes it’s necessary (Todd, JerseyFriend and LawSchoolFriend can attest to this pattern of behavior from college).

I used to reach out when she withdrew, tried to cheer her out of melancholy or force her to participate in life more — the lives Todd and I and the rest of our friends increasingly were living without her. These are things I know I’m powerless to achieve, things that someone shouldn’t be “forced” into doing if they’re not psychologically or emotionally able. At some point, I realized I couldn’t continue to shoulder her burdens, to feel responsible — at least partially — for her happiness. That sounds very presumptuous, but I just mean I used to feel guilty living a relatively carefree life — writing in my little blog and going out and making new memories with new people and leaving behind someone who used to be a major part of my life.

Eventually, though, the guilt subsided. I stopped wondering whether she’d be coming home or staying at her parents’ house, stopped knocking on her closed door to see if she wanted to talk, stopped including her in spur-of-the-moment plans (although we still make a point to invite her places when she’s actually present). It now has reached a point where we live almost entirely separate lives, save the idle (electronic) chatter to pass the time at work.

I have reached the conclusion that living together probably is not good for our friendship. Bad, even. Some friends just aren’t meant to live together. Todd and I have talked about moving when our lease ends. I vaguely kicked around the subject of moving (all three of us) with OtherRoommate several weeks ago, and she seemed reluctant to pack up and haul our shit somewhere else.

I know the adult thing to do is to share these thoughts with her, rather than with strangers on the Internets, but how does one broach the subject? (She doesn’t read my blog. Or maybe she does. I sent her the link once but she never mentions it. If she does read it, this task has become slightly easier in the most passive-aggressive way of all.) She has to know that this living arrangement is a bad idea. Right?

I don’t like conflict or awkwardness. Eee.

In the finale of “Jersey Boys” the character Frankie Valli says, “…like that bunny on TV with the battery. I just keep going and going and going. Chasing the music. Trying to get home.”…well folks, my battery ran out! After playing the role of Francine 225 plus times in the Jersey Boys First National Tour, three weeks ago my body shouted “STOP”! In the Melissa Strom track (number 14) I have accumulated over 4,050 costume changes, 2,250 wig changes and around 1,900 stair case trips (up and down) in three inch heels. For nine months I played eight shows a week and never dreamed that living on the road, the extra rehearsals, performing when you’re sick and all my responsibilities of being in Jersey Boys would catch up with me. SERIOUSLY people, throughout my career I’ve performed in shows with laryngitis, the flu, migraines, missing contact lenses etc.! But to give my present condition a name I would have to use the word exhaustion.

So here is the scoop. After a mini break from the show I came back Friday, August 10th, 2007. I guess it was too much too soon because all I remember is wondering how in the hell I was getting from scene to scene being so dizzy and feeling so faint and tingly. Behind the Brill Building doors, I could barely even open the door and undo the locks. Lifting the bar stools and pushing the forty pound rolling bar was like lifting an elephant. And “Boyfriend’s Back” was like suffocating in quicksand. I remember Michelle, assistant stage manager, behind the half black saying, “Jen will go on for you during “Dawn” Act I finale and click the camera. Go to your dressing room after “Boyfriend’s Back”… are you okay?” During intermission I was visitied by an EMT (Emergency Medical Team), stage management, and a house manager while my good friends Jackie Seiden and Eric Gutman sat with me. (Ya’ll are the best!) I was so upset, I felt like an idiot and by that time my face was doing that ugly red wet splotchy thing. During the second act I only did the Francine phone call and “Fallen Angel.” It was so bazaar; here I am playing Francine walking towards the “light” in front of 2,000 people…my heart is beating out of my chest, my chest cavity feels like it’s being ripped from my skeleton, I can’t catch a breath, I have vertigo, my head feels like its going to explode, I can’t feel my left hand and all my toes are numb. The whole time I kept telling myself, “keep going, don’t faint” and I continued to walk up the spiral staircase, holding on for dear life. My knees were knocking, my head was spinning and I couldn’t see anything high up on the rafter with the warm lights shining directly into my eyes. “Melissa, do not fall off the catwalk! Twenty paces…ten paces…five more steps…one more step and the audience can’t see me.” Guess what?… I made it through “Fallen Angel!”

That was a week ago and I haven’t done the show since. Sad that I’m not able to perform, but glad I’m slowly on the mend after being in the most incredibly challenging and rewarding show of my career. Remember folks, the good thing is that over time batteries can be recharged. I’m glad to say I’m already feeling better. I will keep you posted about my plans regarding the show. Officially, I am on an extended leave from the “Jersey Boys” First National Tour. For now I will remain in LA, my home. This incredible show with its amazing hardworking and talented cast goes on and I hope to be back on the boards soon!

I wanted to thank the cast, creative team, people associated with” Jersey Boys” and the fans for all of your text messages, emails, comments on my blog, myspace messages, phone calls, and all of the backstage letters, notes, cards, flowers, hugs and stuffed critters you have bestowed upon me. Truly amazing and thoughtful.

MSS

I finished Dominion and Dynasty: A theology of the Hebrew Bible by Stephen Dempster this weekend. This is a volume in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series edited by D.A. Carson. It was an enjoyable read that carried me forward in completing it due to an interesting and thought-through thesis. I felt compelled to finish the book in order to know how it ends.

Dempster’s thesis, as his title would suggest, is that the Hebrew canon’s overarching story is one of genealogy and geography. The Tanakh is pointing to the story of YHWH calling a specific genealogy to a specific geography. The Davidic covenant takes center stage in Dempster’s telling. He sees the promise of an eternal “house” for David speaking to a dual meaning. This points to a lineage in the house of David (i.e. sons) and to a location for rulership.

In Dempster’s approach he looks to the shape of the Hebrew canon, but does not over-sell the concept. To the uninitiated on the idea of shape to the Hebrew canon, the summary is that the Hebrews ordered books in a fashion differently from the Christian OT. Dempster and other leading Biblical Theologians point to the difference to display a different literary meaning. In simple example, the Christian OT ends with Malachi pointing expectantly to Christ of the Gospels and the forerunner. The Hebrew Tanakh ends with Chronicles speaking to exile and a failed restoration because of the people’s hardness (c.f. Ezra-Nehemiah).

I can give a possible hearing to the idea of shape for the Hebrew canon, but as this is not a textual deduction but rather a providential result of history I feel it is tenuous. I think the Christian OT’s shape is also a providential result of history and should be given equal consideration. Both do communicate a different narrative theology. I think for interpretation with intertextuality and recreating 1st century mindset the Hebrew shape is given precedent. The fact of the Christian OT shape should be considered in applying the OT to the post-NT Christian.

This is by no means the main intent of this book and is basically assumed after brief clarification of the method in the introduction. The book does an excellent job of retelling the Hebrew canon story. He adds color to facts to arrive an a combination of recapitulation and interpretation. At points with humor and illustration, he brings the reader into the single story of the Tanakh.

He leads the reader through the Hebrew shape to support his thesis with cogent and honest arguments. He gives dissenting opinions and admits other options to be considered with humility. He follows the Hebrew order through the books telling the story with some potential direction for continuing this information into the NT. All in all Dempster argues for his thesis clearly and convincingly. The ultimate test for me with any proposed scheme for a mitte of the OT is “what does he/she do with the Wisdom literature?” Many seem to force a square peg into a round hole at this point; however, Dempster showed a balance between arguing a suggestion and silence at some points without cramming his thesis where it barely fits.

Dempster’s work is highly recommended to those who need the OT to come together in unity. If you feel as if you are lost in the maze of these ancient books this work is valuable. To the OT specialist it is another proposal worthy of consideration for unity. Lastly, for the NT scholar this work sets the stage well for much of the historical Jesus issues. Dempster supports much of N.T. Wright’s assertions. In many ways Dempster gives some info prior to the time period of NTPG yet still leading to many of the ultimate conclusions of JVG.

New York! New York! Get ready for the women bloggers. BlogHer Business convenes Wednesday night with an open happy hour. Two days of panels and keynote speakers follow 3/22-23. This is BlogHer's first entree into the business conference arena and from the speakers the BlogHer Diva's (Elisa Camahort, Jory Des Jardins and Lisa Stone) have brought in .. seems like another BlogHer hit.

In preparing to moderate the panel "Should You Blog?", I’ve had The Best Time getting to know the amazing, and very different, women - Penelope Trunk, Remi Adams and Roxanne Darling - who will open the discussion. We call it  the “opening

What sites show up if you type “S” into your browser's address bar?
My first one is http://www.sierrarica.com/ a Spanish food producer. I must have gone on their site to check out recipes when I bought one of their products, most likely chestnuts.
Then there is http://www.skinmusic.net/.

Skin

Skin is probably my favourite music artist after Muse. For those unfamiliar with her work, she was lead singer of a band called Skunk Anansie which is where I discovered her. She left the band after three albums and went solo. She has the most amazing voice, is a fantastic live performer and bloody scary looking despite having quite a soft, feminine voice.
Her first gig as a solo artist was incredible. It was at the Scala in Kings Cross, a small, intimate venue and every single person there was a massive fan. She was humbled by the response she got and put on an incredible show.
The last time I saw her was at Kings College Student union. Mosh and I worked out that some of the students there hadn't been born when we went to our first gig, which was slightly depressing. What cheered us up - apart from Skin's rocking performance obviously - was amusing ourselves by observing the very heavily styled hair most of the students were sporting the like of which I haven't seen since the new romantic era in the eighties. Several pharmaceutical companies were making a lot of money in hair products alone that night.
But I digress, Skin is currently recording a new album, her third, which I'm very excited about not least because it will inevitably lead to a tour.
I've been listening to some track and trying to work out which ones to post which best represent the range of her work. And as such a favourite artist of mine it is hard but here goes. This is from Skunk Anansie's first album Paranoid & Sunburnt:

Weak
Skunk Anansie