Left of Center

Felice Arenas: Inside Job Director Talks Future Films, Says Wall Street 'Not Entirely Sane'

Trading takes place on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on August 5, 2010 in New York City. UPI/Monika Graff Photo via Newscom

Felice Arenas: Inside Job Director Talks Future Films, Says Wall Street 'Not Entirely Sane': "The very prosperous (and the very free) Richard Fuld, former Lehman Brothers CEO, and Frank Raines, former Fannie Mae CEO, among others, make pretend baddies from big-budget thrillers look small time. Their egregious actions led to millions of people losing their jobs, their homes and their confidence in governmental control."

Ryan O'Connell: Auditioning for the Real World Is Too Real

Ryan O'Connell: Auditioning for the Real World Is Too Real: "When you graduate from college, you often do things that compromise your dignity. Some people become telemarketers. Some work at American Apparel. I audition for irrelevant reality shows like The Real World.

Unsurprisingly, the experience was demoralizing, dehumanizing and any other word that you can attach a 'de' to. The aspiring Real Worlders I encountered that day were, hands down, the most delusional and sad people I've ever met. Everyone seemed to know each other from previous reality show auditions and they all took pride in belonging to this bizarre subculture of reality star wannabes. They brought laminated resumes -- perhaps to impress the casting director with their jobs at Chili's and Bebe -- and also felt it was necessary to do complex gymnastic routines and vocal warm-ups in line. To them, auditioning for The Real Word was like being in the running for a Martin Scorcese film."

Jim Wallis: MLK and the "Progressive Hunter"

Jim Wallis: MLK and the "Progressive Hunter": "I read an alarming report last night on a recent interview with Byron Williams, who was arrested after a July 18 shootout with the police. He had a car full of guns and planned to kill people at the Tides Foundation and ACLU in San Francisco. Williams said in this interview that he sees Glenn Beck as his 'teacher,' and that he was agitated by the virulent things his teacher had to say about the people at Tides. While it is unfair to blame Beck for everything his audience might do, it isn't unfair to ask Beck to make the connection that King did between the violence of the tongue and that of the fist, and to take responsibility for how he speaks about those with whom he disagree"