NEWS PAGE 4

Saw a movie this past weekend that had none of the elements I stress as being important in the screenwriting classes I teach at UCLA Extension. No plot, no character development, no act structure, no character needs, no conflict. And I loved it. Guess when you have fourteen great songs (like "A Hard Day's Night") performed by the Beatles, none of that stuff matters.  02.13.17 

 In addition to my writing and music, I'm in the golf business. Fourteen years ago, I invented the BreakMaster Digital Green Reader, a golf device that helps golfers read the break (slope) of the green.  But it was not universally accepted right away.  I remember standing at our booth at our first PGA Show as more than a few angry golfers came by to declare that “that thing is illegal” and that “it will never be accepted under the Rules of Golf.” Fortunately, golf pros, caddies and golf instructors got it. They understood that the BreakMaster was a great tool intended for charting greens before, not during, competitions. The BreakMaster has, since then, helped thousands of golfers make more putts, and helped many pros win tournaments by knowing the break before they putt. Well, this week, the R & A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, who jointly governs the Rules of Golf along with the USGA) bought a good number of BreakMasters from us. The USGA (as well as the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour) had been using the BreakMaster for years to set up fair hole positions for their tournaments. So had the R & A (we were surprised to learn) which had been using the BreakMaster for some time, but had not, until now, purchased directly from us. Golf is a game of rich traditions, and doesn’t it change capriciously. We’re proud to learn that the R & A has recognized the BreakMaster as useful tool for the game. www.breakmaster.com 02.11.17

Finally, a good one! I have to say I have been underwhelmed by most of the movie screeners I've been sent for awards season.  But I really liked "Hidden Figures" a lot. A really inspiring story with wonderful characters beautifully portrayed.  This is one of my favorite films of the year and it definitely stands up to repeat viewings. 01.29.17

About The Election: To my Democrat friends and family: you survived eight years of G.W. Bush.  Whatever happens today, you can handle it.    To my Republican friends and family: you survived eight years of B.H. Obama.  Whatever happens today, you can handle it.     For me: I survived sixteen years of friends and family bitching about politics on Facebook.  Whatever happens today, I can handle it. 11.08.16

Sorry I haven't posted for months, but we've been in the midst of a move.  Said goodbye to our Sherman Oaks home (of twenty years!) and moved to the suburbanopolis that is Woodland Hills, CA.  We're in a very nice neighborhood, and because we're now in a townhouse, I won't have to spend weekends doing yardwork when I'd rather be writing.  Looking forward to posting a lot more in the coming days. 09.15.16

Spoilers ahead. OK, in truth, I loved last night's episode "Battle of the Bastards." But, wasn't it just a couple weeks ago I said that they were writing too many "last minute saves" of characters by other O.S. characters? Well, whoops, they did it again. And as much as I was happy to see Littlefinger's Knights of the Vale come to the rescue of Jon and his ragtag army, thus allowing Ramsay Bolton to get his justly deserved comeuppance, I mean, really? Sansa knew that Littlefinger had pledged his army if needed. And it was pretty obvious that he was the one to whom she sent a raven asking for help. But why not tell Jon Snow about this? "Oh, by the way, Jon, I did ask a friend if I could borrow thousands of cavalry troops. Maybe it's a good idea to put off the battle with Ramsay for a day or two?" OK, I know that I'm always willing to cut a bit of slack for shows that I really like, so I'm willing to forgive GOT here. Besides, the opening battle with Daenerys and her dragons was just spectacular. But how does she manage that timing? Getting not just the dragons, but the Dothraki hoard to arrive on cue just as she was making her point with the Slavers. OK, I'll stop thinking now. 06.20.16 

Spoilers ahead.  For the most part, I enjoyed Game of Thrones "Blood of My Blood" episode last night, but I did feel that Cersei would NEVER let Tommen get so close to the High Sparrow as to experience a religious conversion. That strained credibility. Cersei is too smart/devious to let that happen. I'm hoping that it's a fake. We'll see how that plays out. I do like the idea that Arya is apparently leaving the Faceless Man fraternity. Those people are BORING. Also, aren't we seeing just a FEW too many last second rescues by characters previously O.S.? Here are a few off the top of my head: Bran and Meera rescued by Benjen (last night), Sansa and Theon rescued by Brienne (a few weeks ago), Daenerys rescued by Drogon (probably the best one) and Jon and his troops rescued by Stannis and Davos (last season). There are probably more that I can't remember offhand. Is this becoming too obvious a plot device? Next thing you know, Bran will "warg" back in time and stop the blade from falling on his dad!  05.30.16