The stock market rallied several hundred points today, after yesterday’s historic plunge on Wall Street.  Monday, stocks dropped 778 points or 7 percent. The biggest point loss ever. Also, the biggest percentage loss since September 17, 2001, the first day of trading after the deadly September 11 terrorist attacks.

The meltdown started when it became clear the highly touted  $700 billion financial bailout for troubled institutions would tank in the House of Representatives. Despite dire warning from the president and congressional leaders, many of the House’s rank and file could not stomach a bill that violated a number of their principles nor justify the so-called rescue for Wall Street to the folks back in their districts. The bailout bill failed 228 to 205.

Meanwhile, the financial mess has turned out to be a boon for the publishing industry and some writers. Although the outcome is still very much up in the air, there are a number of book sales and proposals based on the crisis. Some involve big money!

Several proposals were auctioned off last week. Penguin reportedly paid more than $1 million for a book to be written by New York Times’ Joe Nocera and Fortune’s Bethany McLean. Also, another New York Times journalist, Andrew Ross Sorkin, reportedly sold his book, “Too Big to Fail,” to Penguin imprint Viking for $700 thousand.

Earlier this year, a number of other books on the financial collapse were bought and are already in the publishing pipeline. 

Google file image/O.J. signs a jersey.

O.J. Simpson’s armed robbery/kidnapping trial in Las Vegas is on hold today — in observance of Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish new year.

Yesterday, witness Michael McClinton continued his testimony which began last Friday. McClinton is the Simpson accomplice accused of brandishing a gun in a Vegas hotel room during a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers last September.

On Friday, McClinton testified that Simpson told him to bring his weapon. McClinton has come under some tough questioning from defense attorney, Gabriel Grasso, who used transcripts of secretly taped conversations of Simpson and his group of cohorts. 

When McClinton wrapped up his testimony the prosecution rested its case. The defense then took over and called three witnesses, two police officers and one of the memorabilia dealers involved in the case, Alfred Beardsley. It was the second time Beardsley had been called to the stand. His testimony was brief due to the judge’s decision to block a series of questions the defense wanted to ask Beardsley.

The defense claims Simpson went to that Vegas hotel room to recover personal property that had been stolen from him. In a key point, Simpson’s legal team insists the former NFL star did not know members of his entourage were packing guns nor did he see a weapon.

Simpson and co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, are accused of stealing a cache of collectibles at gunpoint and face a dozen charges. If convicted, they could land behind bars serving lengthy prison sentences.

The trial is expected to resume tomorrow morning.

Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is the subject of yet another new book. This one is called “Say It Like Obama: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision.” The author is Shel Leanne, a corporate leadership executive and former Harvard University instructor. In the book, Leanne uses examples from Obama’s speeches to explain the art of persuasion, the power of presentation, and effective communication techniques.

The book includes Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention speech, which put him on the political map and his 2008 Democratic National Convention speech to accept his party’s historic nomination for President of the United States.

Publisher McGraw-Hill reportedly has shipped 25,000 hardcover copies to stores. The “Say It Like Obama” book is for sale on the Barnes & Noble website from $10.97 – $17.56 and  Amazon from $8.94-$14.93.

Presidential candidates and Senators Barack Obama and John McCain are back on the campaign trail today after verbally duking it out at the University of Mississippi last Friday. When the 90 minute debate was over, both candidates were still standing and neither had suffered any major bruising  or gaffes. Many observers were disappointed by this. I was not.

Over the weekend, another debate followed. Who won?  A new national  Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll taken right after the debate and through Sunday, showed Obama beating McCain ,49 percent to 44 percent, among 448 registered voters.

According to a CNN poll of about 500 debate watchers across the nation, 51 percent said Obama won while 38 percent said McCain came out on top. However, in this survey there were more Democrats than Republicans.

Also, a focus group on the Fox Channel gave the victory to Obama as well. Some focus group members on both CNN and Fox say they were turned off by McCain’s testiness. I noticed McCain’s “attitude problem” as well. In my opinion, the Arizona senator was frequently condescending and downright rude at times during the debate.

Many political analysts say it will take days to determine if either candidate really won the first face-off. I think the first debate served its purpose. We got to hear the candidates express their opinions in their own words.

We now know that McCain would give big breaks to businesses, “… I want to cut that business tax. I want to cut it so that businesses will remain in — in the United States of America and create jobs.”

Obama wants to close tax loopholes being used by too many corporations and his tax plan would spread the benefits around, “… 95 percent of you will get a tax cut. And if you make less than $250,000, less than a quarter-million dollars a year, then you will not see one dime’s worth of tax increase. ”

McCain has a positive view of the Iraq war ”…  we are winning in Iraq. And we will come home with victory and with honor…  And I want to tell you that now that we will succeed and our troops will come home, and not in defeat, that we will see a stable ally in the region and a fledgling democracy.”

Obama sees Iraq as a failure of the Bush Administration and feels the focus should have been on Afghanistan and tracking down Osama bin Laden, “… we should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. But we have to use our military wisely. And we did not use our military wisely in Iraq.”

The debate at Ole Miss showed other contrasts between the candidates as well. Neither candidate scored a knockout, but they did present their views on domestic and foreign policy to the American people. So for the viewers and listeners of the debate it was win-win situation.

Next up, veepee candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday October 2.

        1925-2008

Paul Leonard Newman has taken that final bow. Newman was an extraordinary man of many interests. A true Hollywood movie star for several decades, he still found time to be an activist, race car enthusiast, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He died last night at his home in Connecticut, after a battle with cancer which he fought as privately as he could.

The Silver Screen loved his stunningly handsome face and brilliant baby blues. And Newman could act! What a package. Newman became a movie star in the 1950s, but did not win the best actor Academy Award until 1986 for his role in “The Color of Money.” 

His body of work is lengthy and impressive. Some of my favorite Newman films are:  “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” with Elizabeth Taylor (1958), “The Long, Hot Summer” with Joanne Woodward (1958), “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969),  “The Sting” (1973), and “The Verdict” (1982).

Along with incredible talent, Newman had a generous heart and contributed to many charities. He started Hole in the Wall camps for seriously ill children and the incredibly successful Newman’s Own, a food company he founded with a friend in 1982. 

All of the profits from Newman’s Own go to charity –the total stands at more $250 million. The Newman’s Own products get my personal shopper’s seal of approval; especially the salad dressings which I love. Poignant tributes to Paul Newman are posted on the Newman’s Own website as well as on the Hole in the Wall camps site.

Newman & Woodward  1958

Along with this diverse legacy, Newman leaves behind his wife of 50 years, actress Joanne Woodward, and five children.

Actor/producer Robert J. Wagner is talking about the strange death of Natalie Wood and a secret affair with another Hollywood actress in a new book. Wagner, who is 78, has written his memoirs with Scott Eyman.

“Pieces of My Heart” hit bookstores earlier this month. Wagner will be out promoting the book at the 7th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair this coming Sunday.

“Pieces of My Heart” is a stroll down memory lane for Wagner; from his childhood through some real life drama, to his acting career, and romances. For the first time, Wagner discloses his first love was Barbara Stanwyck. Still, the love of his life was Natalie Wood, his first and third wife. Wood died after falling off a yacht in 1981. Wagner has been married to actress Jill St. John for 18 years.

The handsome Wagner, known for his smooth delivery and charm, appeared in a number of films: but he is probably best remembered for acting in TV series like “It Takes A Thief” (1968-1970), “Switch” (1975-1978), and “Hart to Hart” (1979-1984). Recently, Wagner has been seen in several episodes of the TV sitcom, “Two and a Half Men.”

Today on the Barnes & Noble website Wagner’s book is ranked number eight. On Amazon, “Pieces of My Heart” is holding down the number 16 spot.  

Google Image

Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, site of the Simpson trial.

 The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case today in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery/kidnapping trial in Las Vegas. Yesterday, Alfred Beardsley, one of the memorabilia dealers allegedly robbed during that encounter in a Vegas hotel room last September, called a key piece of evidence in the case, a “…work of art.”

Beardsley was referring to the tape of the encounter that middle man Thomas Riccio sold to several media outlets for thousands of dollars. The tape is at the center of the prosecution’s case. Earlier, an FBI expert testified he could not say for sure if the tape had been altered.

Also taking the stand on Thursday, Simpson’s former sports agent Mike Gilbert. However, Gilbert’s testimony was very limited, because Judge Jackie Glass ruled the jury could not hear what the agent had to say about his feud with O.J. and the connection to the memorabilia taken from that room at the Palace Station Hotel.

The former NFL star and co-defendant, Clarence ” C.J.” Stewart, are charged with a string of crimimal offenses which carry a stiff prison sentence.

In Washington today lawmakers are scrambling to come up with a solution to the nation’s financial mess. Last night, President Bush gave a nationwide speech and confirmed what the experts and his advisors have been saying all week –the economy is in deep, deep trouble.

 Right at the beginning, the president admitted “… we’re in the midst of a serious financial crisis.” He explained the problem with our major financial markets and then pointed to his administration’s $700 billion bailout as the solution. He issued a warning that “…not passing a bill now would cost Americans much more later.”

Also, Mr. Bush tried to reassure the nervous public that “…the plan is big enough to solve a serious problem.”

Today, Mr. Bush is holding a summit on the proposed bailout at the White House; lawmakers along with presidential candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, will attend.

Meanwhile, there’s added tension between the two camps. It began yesterday when McCain apparently blindsided Obama by saying he was suspending his campaign to deal with the economic crisis and wanted Friday’s first debate delayed.

Obama agreed to the importances of taking quick action on the Wall Street meltdown, but he insisted that the debate should go forward as planned saying it was a good test because, “It’s going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.”

Another slap down for text messaging. Yesterday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill banning texting while driving a motor vehicle.

Drivers caught texting behind the wheel face fines of $20 for the first offense and $50 for violations after that. I would give the law a major high-five if the penalties were stiffer for this kind of hazardous conduct on our streets and roads.

The ban covers wireless devices used to write, read, or send text messages. It takes effect on January 1, 2009.

A few weeks ago on July first, a state ban against driving and using hand-held cell phones took effect. Hopefully, drivers will start to get the message that while operating a motor vehicle the priorities are to drive and pay attention to the road.

The O.J. Simpson armed robbery/kidnapping trial has hit a few bumps, however, it is still rolling right along in Las Vegas. Over the past two days, Simpson has had to listen to three cohorts give damaging testimony against him.

Simpson’s ex-friend, Charles Ehrlich, was on the stand for a second day on Tuesday. Ehrlich was cross-examined by the defense, but held fast to his story that Simpson knew at least one member of his group was packing a gun when they confronted two sports memorabilia dealers in a Vegas hotel room a year ago.

Yesterday, another member of that group and former golfing buddy of Simpson, Walter Alexander, said O.J. had ordered him and another man to pack heat. Also, Alexander says that once it was over, Simpson kept saying to everyone involved “… Just remember –no guns.” 

Later another accomplice, Charles Cashmore, would testify that a gun came out during the confrontation. Cashmore, Alexander, and Ehrlich have accepted plea deals in exchange for their testimony.

The defense contends the former NFL star did not know there were weapons involved and never saw a gun. They say Simpson went to that hotel room to recover some property that had been stolen from him. Those items are said to be worth $100,000.

Simpson and co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, are facing a dozen charges that could send them to prison if they’re convicted.

Burbank/August 2008

I complained a lot during the summer about the jacked-up prices of gasoline. As recently as mid-August gas prices at the pumps in Burbank were still over $4 a gallon. Then prices began to tumble.

 About two weeks ago, I paid $3.70 a gallon — on Monday, I paid even less, $3.60 a gallon. I should be doing the happy dance or at least a quick cha-cha step over the money I’m saving, but I’m not feeling it. The reason: that meltdown on Wall Street and a proposed $700 billion bailout.

While the average citizen scrimped to save here and there on the necessities, apparently too many big wheelers and dealers in the financial sector were spending recklessly and with little concern for the consequences.

 Now, as so many analysts have said, “the system is broken,” and it looks like taxpayers are going to have to pay to fix it. That’s a tough pill to swallow; one the present administration is trying to force down our throats.

I agree with the financial experts who say an alternative should be worked out that would limit the liability for taxpayers. Clearly, the financial mess is going to take some serious work to clean-up. I think some of the folks and institutions that caused the crisis should bear the brunt of the responsibility and the financial obligation for the clean-up.

This gloomy, dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over the economy has made everyday living a little harder for some of us. We needed that like, well, you know.

Some published authors are not sitting on the sidelines waiting for Election Day, they’re taking action on the Internet. Novelist Ayelet Waldman is a long-time supporter of Barack Obama and she has come up with a fundraising hook that is really catching on. Waldman is the author of “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits,” “Daughter’s Keeper,” and the Mommy Track mysteries.

Waldman launched the website www.Books4Barack.com on September 3, 2008 and has raised $120,000 since then, according to Publishers Weekly. Waldman asked writer friends to donated signed copies of their books to entice people to donate to the Obama campaign. And it worked. Waldman got help from author husband, Michael Chabon, and friends like Amy Tan. 

They have more than 750 books which include titles from Stephen King, Alice Sebold, Dennis Lehane, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lemony Snicket. Anyone who donates $250 or more will get a tote bag stuffed with 10 randomly selected books, many are rare or first editions. The offer stands until October first or the books run out.

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YA FOR OBAMA

Popular young adult author Mauren Johnson is also a big supporter of Obama. Recently, she started the website http://yaforobama.ning.com/  The website is a social network for YA authors, fans and friends to come together to support Obama for President.

 Johnson’s latest novel “Suite Scarlett” was released in May. She has written several other YA novels including “Girl at Sea,” and “Devilish.”

Also, there is a great post on the YA for Obama website by bestselling author, Judy Blume who has written dozens of young adult, children’s, and adult books. Blume’s post is called,”Why I support Obama.”

Thomas Riccio, the resourceful collectibles dealer who is at the center of O.J. Simpson’s Las Vegas trial, has written a book about the case. It is called ”Busted: The Inside Story of the World of Sports Memorabilia, O.J. Simpson, and the Vegas Arrests.”

Busted was published last April. It’s on the Barnes & Nobles website for $25.95, if you don’t have a membership card. The price drops about five dollars, if you are a member. There are several used copies for $12.97 as well.

The real bargain is over on Amazon.com where the hardcover of “Busted,” new and used, range in price from $12.64 to $14.47. 

Crime Writer Dominick Dunne

O.J. Simpson’s armed robbery/kidnapping trial is kicking off day seven in Las Vegas, today. Yesterday, there were some anxious moments when celebrity crime writer Dominick Dunne was rushed to the hospital complaining of pain.

Dunne, who is reportedly battling cancer, is covering the trial for Vanity Fair magazine. Dunne is well known for reporting on high profile trials. He took up the profession in the mid-1980s, after his daughter, actress Dominique Dunne, was strangled by John Sweeney, a former boyfriend, in the driveway of a West Hollywood home. She died a few days later. Sweeney was convicted of manslaughter, but served less than six years in prison.

82-year-old Dunne was checked out and then released from the hospital later in the day.  Meanwhile, collectibles dealer Thomas Riccio was back on the stand for a third day. Riccio is the middle man who arranged the meeting between Simpson and the two sports memorabilia dealers.  Also, Riccio repeated his contention that he saw a gun during the confrontation in a Las Vegas hotel room last September.

Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, has argued the former NFL star went to the hotel to recover his stolen property and he never saw a gun.

Also, Riccio revealed how he has profited from the incident. Riccio admits he received more than $200,000 from news outlets that included the celebrity website TMZ and ABC News. Also, Riccio wrote a book called “Busted”  about his involvement in the case.

Another witness, Charles B. Ehrlich, testified that Simpson knew one of his accomplices brought a gun to the encounter. Ehrlich was there as well and has accepted a plea bargain in exchange for his testimony.

Simpson and co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, are facing about a dozen charges and if convicted of the most serious offenses, they could get life in prison.

Google file image

Writer and comedienne Tina Fey, who is getting a lot of attention for her dead-on impersonation of Republican Veepee Sarah Palin, is on a serious roll. Last night at the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, Fey was one of the big winners.

“30 Rock,” created by Fey, won seven Emmys including best comedy. Fey picked up two of those awards for acting and writing. Also, Fey starred in the movie “Baby Mama”, which has made more than $60 million since opening in April. Recently, Fey’s performance as Sarah Palin on “Saturday Night Live” (09-13-08) has been getting rave reviews.

“John Adams” received 23 Emmy nominations.

In other Emmy highlights, HBO’s “John Adams” cleaned up with a record breaking 13 awards including best miniseries and AMC’s “Mad Men” made history by becoming the first cable program to win the best drama award.

More kudos for Tony Kushner, the creator of “Angels in America.” The highly-acclaimed cable TV movie  version won a staggering 11 Emmy Awards in 2004. Kushner wrote the screenplay as well as the play that the movie is based on. It is about the AIDS crisis during the mid-1980s.

Now, Kushner has been named as the first recipient for a new $200,000 playwright prize. Established by the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, this is the largest theater award in the country and one of the largest cash awards for individual achievements in the arts, according to Philanthropy News Digest.

Along with winning an Emmy, Kushner has won a Pulitzer, two Tonys, and an Olivier Award for “Angels in America.” Kushner, who lives in New York and Hollywood, says he works on screenplays, “to buy me time to work on plays.”

Kushner’s other works include, “A Bright Room Called Day,” “Homebody/Kabul”, and “Caroline or Change.”

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Tyler Perry is expanding his mega-operations. Perry, a prolific actor/ writer/producer/director/, has formed 34th Street Films. It will focus on producing projects written and directed by outside talent.

The new film unit will be based in Los Angeles. Perry will remain headquartered in Atlanta. In July, Perry signed a new three-year first look deal with Lionsgate. The distributor has handled six Perry films including, “The Family That Preys,” which is out now and has earned nearly $30 million in 10 days.

Google file photo

Last Tuesday, superstar and activist Barbra Streisand performed at a special concert in Beverly Hills to help raise millions for the Barack Obama for President campaign. In case anyone had any doubts about where the singer stands in the 2008 presidential race, Streisand is speaking out publicly against Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain.

The strongly worded piece is called, “The Country Can’t Afford to Elect John McCain.”  It appears on Streisand’s website and as a blog on The Huffington Post. 

Streisand views McCain as part of the problem and not the solution. She says, “for 26 years in Washington, McCain has supported deregulation of the financial sector .” Also, Streisand criticizes the Arizona senator for supporting the Bush Doctrine and for picking  “… an unqualified running mate.” In a previous statement on her website, Streisand lambasted McCain for his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Streisand was once a Hillary Clinton for President supporter, but made the switch to Obama when he won enough delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. 

FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove

A voter makes her choice at a Burbank polling place during last winter’s presidential primary.

The deadline to register to vote is fast approaching. You have until October 20 to register for the all important Presidential General Election on November 4, 2008.

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s website lavote.net has a ton of information on voting and the elections. According to data on that website, there are 4,021,954 registered voters in the county as of September 8, 2008. 

At the time of the California Presidential Primary on February 5, 2008, there were 3,951,957 people on the county voter rosters.

The polls right now show the race for president is very close between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. We have heard many times that “every vote counts.”  In the upcoming presidential election it just may come down to a few votes deciding the outcome.

So make your voice heard.  Register and vote!

O.J. Simpson’s armed robbery/kidnapping trial is gearing up for a second week in glitzy Las Vegas. The highlights of the first week’s court drama include a string of colorful witnesses, the debate over the authenticity of audio tapes, and a surprise visit to the alleged scene of the crime by the jury.

The trial got underway slowly last Monday with opening statements and two witnesses, one of them, Bruce Fromong, became ill on the stand. The next day, Fromong, a memorabilia dealer, was back to continue his testimony. 

Fromong and another sports memorabilia dealer, Walter Beardsley, say they were robbed in a Vegas hotel room September 13, 2007, when Simpson and a group of cohorts allegedly busted in and took a number of items. A third man, Thomas Riccio, who is a collectibles dealer, was also in the room at the time.

 The prosecution called it armed robbery. The defense claims Simpson was just there to recover some property that had been stolen from him. Simpson and co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, face about a dozen charges which could send them to prison for life, if they are convicted.

On Wednesday, Las Vegas Police Detective Andy Caldwell testified about what the hotel surveillance tape showed and the initial investigation at the scene. Also, Caldwell says, at first, he was not aware that the third man, Thomas Riccio, had allegedly taped the encounter.

A few days after the incident, Riccio reportedly sold a tape to the celebrity web site TMZ for somewhere around $100,000. Later, Caldwell got copies of that audio tape and others made by Riccio. A number of witnesses debated the content and the authenticity of those tapes in their testimony.

In a surprise move on Friday, the jurors were taken to the Palace Station Hotel & Casino where they toured the room where the alleged raid took place.

The trial resumed when the jurors returned to the courtroom. For a second day, Thomas Riccio took the stand and testified about his involvement and those controversial audio tapes as well. Riccio reportedly has been given immunity in return for his testimony. 

Anti-Sarah Palin rally in Anchorage, Alaska on September 13, 2008