Blinky!

In a move reminiscent of The Simpson’s Mr. Burns, coal power plant operator Midwest Generation claims killing fish with it’s hot wastewater may be a good thing. Chicago Tribune article. The claim is essentially that it will prevent invasive species like the Asian carp from navigating between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Of course there are several problems with this logic: Asian carp like warm water; the fish that are supposed to be in the river system will be killed too; and the premise that we can fight one ecological problem caused by man with another ecological problem caused by man. I also love the claim that it is unfair to force a company or companies to do things in a way that doesn’t harm the environment because it would cost those companies money. Using this logic, I should be able to throw my garbage out the window of my apartment or car because using a waste disposal service costs me money.

In other news, actors on Chicago stages will continue to be able to smoke on stage, as long as they don’t mind risking fines for themselves and possibly their theatre company. A move to allow an exemption for stage performances was shot down in city council committee. The ability to use herbal cigarettes is still unclear: theatres are scrutinizing the language of the smoking ban to see if this is allowable. It is assumed that an actor caught smoking onstage will be subject to the fine, and not the theatre, as the old line “I was just doing it because I was told to” really doesn’t cut it anymore. Obviously this is legislation that needs a little revisiting, much like the current fire code prohibiting any flame whatsoever onstage. I don’t recall any problems in the past with legally used effects that got the fire inspector’s personal OK. It was the people who broke the rules that ended up with problems. Now you have more theatres breaking the rules, and not getting the recommendations needed to do fire effects safely.

The Photo Contest will be judged soon! The deadline for submissions is the end of May, so if you haven’t sent your pictures in yet, you should do it now! More information available in the Photo Contest link in the sidebar. I will be posting the entries soon.

I NEED A NEW COMPUTER! I was hoping to hold off for a little while longer, but running a 128meg memory (max allowable) 500mhz computer using Windows 98 in 2007 makes it difficult to do things effectively. If you would like to help me get a new computer, and therefore allow me to do bigger and better things with BackstageJobs.com and TheContactSheets.com (such as faster updating and fixing of problems), you can either: sign up for a mailing list subscription (and help me and you at the same time), or donate to the cause by clicking on the next sentence.

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>>>>> I recommend $5.00 increments, such as $5, $10, $25, or even $50. Smaller than $5 is almost pointless with the transaction fee that is taken out. Don’t want to donate? No problem. I still like you.

Finally, if you want a good laugh, or cry, head on over to PerformInk’s discussion board (no link on general principles) and read the heated debate on Urinetown’s designer/director lawsuit. One playwright has pit herself against the designers on the board, and seems to be ensuring that if her plays are ever produced, she will have to design them herself, as no designer that has heard of her will be willing to join the production. (Good luck getting a director to champion your work, too).

Remember, if you want to comment, you will have to e-mail me at webmaster@thecontactsheets.com. I’ll be working on allowing auto-posted comments again in the future.