EXCITING NEWS (AT LEAST TO ME)

I've just learned that I've been nominated for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association's annual Hall of Fame Award, given out this year at a big gala in New Orleans on Sept 25th, Hurricane Gustav permitting. I found this out after I was asked to emcee the ceremony, which was exciting enough in itself. In any case, the honorees are chosen by on line voting -- there are 17 categories of winners -- I'm in the Entertainment category. So...if you want to vote for all 17 Hall of Famers, go to www.spinalcord.org and scroll down to:

Member Voting is Open for 2008 SCI Hall of Fame™

You'll have to join the NSCIA to vote, but it's a) FREE, b) easy, and c) a great organization to be a member of.

To see the NSCIA poster for New Orleans, go to:

http://www.allenrucker.com/blog/NSCIA%2008%20POSTER.pdf

Now I gotta go watch the weather report.

BROUHAHA OF THE WEEK

If anyone out there was wondering -- and I'm sure many of you were wringing your hands in wonderment -- where, in my new capacity as chairman of the WGA's Writers With Disabilities Committee, I stood on the burning question of the use of the word "retard" in the new Ben Stiller comedy, here's a statement that was not sanctioned by either the committee or the WGA, cuz they don't take sides between guild members:

"No one understands the power of words better than writers. When Tony Soprano peppers his language with f**k, it’s a form of intimidation. When someone says “nigger” or “kike” or “spic,” it’s a form of hate. The same applies to the word, “retard,” perhaps the most damaging reference to the disabled in current usage. When the writers of “Tropic Thunder” think it’s cute to use “retard” in their farce, it’s not funny. It’s mindless and offensive.

I personally join with the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, and others in pointing out this egregious lapse of common decency and urging the public to find another movie to see this weekend."