Wednesday, August 11th, 1999
Stock in Metro Global Media (MGMA) has plunged 15% since Luke F-rd went on the attack a week ago, prompting the panicking company to respond thus on the Yahoo message board. And if Luke can do that to mighty Metro, just think what he can do to your filthy porno company!
Yahoo poster Stagg wrote: "Rather than attacking Luke F-rd (who is arguably the biggest hypocrite on the planet today) why doesn't Metro stop associating with Guarino so its auditors don't resign. Seems to me Metro is missing the big picture problems here. My impression of this company is dropping every day, and that posting by their IR department didn't help matters!"
Cuttheloss wrote: "It seems as though the stock price fell from 2 1/2 to what it is now because of the statements of l-keford.. That's more than a 15% loss."
JoeLukman writes: "Luke F-rd has readily admitted during the past year that his website includes both fact and fiction. Anyone who reads his website easily sees the distinction between these two. Most of his fiction is ironic humor based on industry fact and industry myth.
"Most of his facts are based upon direct quotes from industry insiders. Does he verify the facts stated within these quotes? Usually not. But who is at fault? The people making these quotes, that's who.
"The industry has been trying hard to kill the messenger, rather than kill the speaker. I find it laughable that Metro blames Luke F-rd for their financial problems. Does Microsoft falter, then blame its many highly verbal critics? No. Microsoft holds their management responsible for their performance, not their critics. Metro needs to concentrate on adjusting the management approach that lead to their current state rather than blame an Internet writer."
Cuttheloss: "Could someone please explain what the whole deal with l-keford is?.. Are his posts bogus or what? If they are, how can the company allow it? I'm looking at the financials of this company and they look pretty good. Any projections anyone?"
Metro Home Video is better known within the porn industry as Mafia Home Video. In January 1997, Metro owner Kenny Guarino and Natale Richichi plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the government. Had the case proceeded to trial, the government said in the Memoranda of Plea Agreement that it would have presented evidence that Richichi is a "capo in the Gambino crime family of Cosa Nostra" and that Metro owner Guarino made "tribute payments" to Richichi for protection of his multi-million dollar pornography empire against extortion attempts by other factions of the Mafia. By signing the agreements, Guarino and Richichi acknowledged that "each understood the factual basis for his plea.
"Unlike most [captains] who can only deal with the boss of their family through an adviser, and who would not be in a position to advise higher ranking members of other La Cosa Nostra families, Richichi has dealt directly with John Gotti…
"…He has also been intercepted providing extensive advice to Frank Salemme Jr., the boss of the New England La Cosa Nostra family. Richichi is also known to be highly respected by other La Cosa Nostra families and (captains) of various La Cosa Nostra families who reside in the Las Vegas area appear to give Richichi deference as well."
Ken Guarino paid Natalie Richichi, a confidante of John Gotti, and his son Salvatore $15,000 a month and laundered millions of dollars for them to prevent invasion of his porn empire, to get permission from the New England branch of Cosa Nostra to operate a precious metals business in the Northeast and to use their influence with union officials for favorable treatment. In April 1997, Guarino was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison and fined $250,000.
Luke Goes Postal at LFP
At 12:45 PM Luke received this from LFP employee Bannanarammer: "After I heard about what happened yesterday, I got scared that you'd do a mass shooting at our building. I'm glad that you are taking it with good humor, or at least you seem to be from your writing. Larry doesn't pay us enought at LFP to make a random shooting worth while. But then they never are. And on a side note, I think it is pretty s---ty of Mike and his assistant to do that to you."
At 1PM, Luke entered Larry Flynt Publications and went postal, pulling out his massive Jewish cock and spraying LFP employees with his salty sperm.
Later in the afternoon, Luke nuzzled with CuteJewishGirl who was not impressed. She writes: "You asked me to write a summary for your website: Luke being "real" = intimacy = a joke - because it will never happen (trust no one, believe nothing)"
Fresh Flesh 7
Pat Riley writes on the rec.arts.movies.erotica (RAME) newsgroup:
Fresh Flesh #7
Odyssey Group Video
Directed by: (uncredited but likely Alex Sanders if you can call it
direction).
Featuring: Aspen Brock, Charlene Aspen, Kurious, Shena Chase, Vivian Valentine, Sonya (or Sonja) Redd, Alex Sanders, Cheyne Collins, Pete Welsh, Eric Everhard, Roy L. Shaft
An all-condom movie. Anals for Aspen Brock and Shena Chase. DP for Vivan Valentine. Facials for all girls except Shena and Sonya (both pussy cum shots). All scenes are couples except Vivian's.
Run down on the people: ASPEN BROCK: First seen in University Co-Eds #14. Lenny raved about her in Please #3 but IMO she looks too much like Alyssa Allure to be attractive. Despite initial appearance of a lithe body, I think her belly shows some deterioration. I bet there's an infant at home. (That implies a pimp who's whoring her out or the fact that she's dumb enough to have a baby before 18/getting married.) Official description: petite, nice smile, marginal face (looks like Allysa Allure), shoulder length brown hair, 20 years old, 34-23-32, small tits, almost no areola, racing stripe, some loss of belly muscle tone, lithe body.
CHARLENE ASPEN: What's with the "Aspen"? Is this the name of some rock star I'm unfamiliar with? Isn't an Aspen a tree? Yeah, I know it's a ski resort. This girl first appeared in Freshman Fantasies #20 where they took care to keep the camera away from her belly and that's the case in this movie too. She even uses the cummerbund effect. Subsequent to FF #7 I saw Video Virgins #46 where they do some reverse cowgirl with no cummerbund and the belly's not too bad--like Aspen Brock's. Oh, and she says she's 26 in VV#46--can't they even remember their own lies? The big defect about Charlene though is her teeth. She has a huge gap in the middle of her upper set and that combined with the overbite makes her hard to look at. Don't they have dentists in LA? Oops, she comes from NYC and I know they have dentists here. Well, why didn't her mother (she must have one of those) take her to the orthodontist around puberty? f---in' poor parents. Why can't those CPS people do their job? Official description: Charlene (the Aspen is from {Fresh Flesh #7}) is 24 years old, comes from New York, and has a passable face, overbite, front tooth gap, long straight brown hair, small tits, lithe body, tattoo left belly, fleshy labia, and possible belly deterioration.
KURIOUS: Kurious should be known to all although obviously not Lenny
in his review of Please #3 nor that raving WebTV-er. This girl has a
tattoo across the small of her back "Italian Princess"--sort of conflicts
with another aging porno performer we know, eh? I love it
SHENA CHASE: She's not the greatest looks-wise but her performance here is simply fantastic. Buy/rent the movie for her tease sequence by the pool prior to going inside and getting screwed. She intermixes preening, walking around in a bikini with a diaphanous skirt which she keeps re-arranging and taking on and off, answering questions, and lying on the pool apron and exposing her crotch and tits a little. It helps that her SO, Pete Welch is doing the questioning and that there's a rapport between them. Unlike others on this group I love scenes with SO's provided they forget the camera and screw (or tease) like they were doing it at home. Official description: Shena has short dirty blonde hair, plucked eyebrows, passable face, flat belly, medium/large slightly droopy tits with large areola, shaven pussy, lithe body, tight waist and no obvious tattoos or piercings. In 1999 she said she's 19 years old.
VIVIAN VALENTINE: You should know her too unless you only rent VVWA&E movies in which case you'll probably see her in them in 2001. Originally I thought she was pushy, then I developed some non-dislike, but now I think she's going for the Mila Shegol whore award. No, her colon doesn't drop out and her language is not so unrefined but she seems to be the anal girl in most movies and takes it dispassionately. In University Co-eds #15 and here she looks a little dumpy. Official description: Vivian has long red (sometimes brown) hair, marginal face, buck teeth, small/medium tits, large tattoo on right belly, tattoo around right wrist, shaven pussy, tattoo (insect?) in the small of back, lithe body, and poor skin. In 1998 was 22 years old.
SONYA REDD: Also called Sonja Redd. Was in {Kid Vegas: Whoremaster} and everyone in that movie looked disgusting--well, maybe it was the proximity to Kid Vegas. Bring back the draft! Only way to get these Gen-X people into line. 20 mile route marches with full pack will straighten out anyone. She also looks like Eva in Puritan Video Magazine #23 although Eva had white blonde hair and Sonya has red fine hair. It's a red in between the carroty of Flame and the dark auburn of the Eurowhores. Something like one of those Orientals who do B&D performance art. Not a particularly attractive color and looks fake. The big identifying characteristic is the tattoo on her right shoulder which looks like petals of a daisy arranged in an ovoid or "U" shape with an open part at the top and enclosing a medallion of some kind. Both Eva and Sonya have it so unless there's some fashion that has escaped my notice I think it's pretty conclusive. Official description: Sonya (or Sonja) is Amazonian, 6'1" tall, large tits, white skin, lithe proportionate body, butt acne, not too pretty face, large tattoo on her right shoulder outside, shoulder length red hair (white blonde in some movies).
ALEX SANDERS: Wearing his hair in a pony tail in this movie--looks greasy and unmanageable. Should get a nice conservative short back and sides.
CHEYNE COLLINS: Somewhat resembles Chris Cannon or Ian Daniels with short hair. I have an outstanding question as to whether this is also Cheyne Blanc who appeared with his then SO Chenin Blanc before she acquired cantaloupes. Since he's not particularly distinctive it's hard to tell.
PETE WELSH: SO of Shena Chase. Looks older--maybe 30--but quite presentable. Pink skin. Going bald in other movies which is probably the reason he's shaved off all his hair here. Ridiculous idea. Looks like a white (or pink) bowling ball with ears.
ERIC EVERHARD: Nothing to say. Just another new stud.
ROY L. SHAFT: This is the guy with sores on his dick in another recent movie. Fortunately you don't see them here because of the condom--unless they've healed. I'd screw this guy as quick as I'd screw Marc Wallice (or any other diseased person).
Format: The guy who's going to screw the girl interviews her from behind the camera; then they do the nasty. The clowns have finally worked out that the interview part is to establish a rapport with the girl, something Ed knew years ago. Of course it hasn't filtered through to the oh-my-gosh irritating type in the Video Virgins series, nor to Don Marque at Dane Productions.
Scenes: Alex screws Aspen including an anal. Not thrilling. A whore doing a john. She's coquettish in the interview and he makes silly remarks about her wanting to give a guy in high school a BJ.
Alex screws Charlene. At the start there seems to be a no-touch rule in effect and she hardly removes any clothes, just wiggles around on the bed. I thought maybe the SO was going to turn up to do the dirty but eventually Alex sticks his dick down her throat and we know the no-touch was just an act. She does lots of work in the scene but hardly removes her dress and then there's the teeth. Although there's no anal, the lube slops into her asshole making it look like she's been used there a few times. Cheyne screws Kurious Perfunctory. They both look like they're "working". That's working as in the supermarket checking groceries and stocking shelves.
Pete screws Shena including an anal. After the tease sequence described above during which she gets him and the viewer anxious to pop, they move inside and do the necessary. A good passionate screw like real lovers. If Pete could repeat this performance (especially the interview/tease part) with other girls we could have a replacement for you know who. He'd have to grow his hair back though. Eric and Roy share Vivian including a DP. They share the interview portion too which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. They both sounded reasonably intelligent. The DP takes place in the kitchen over a chair and there are gaps, presumably while the anal guy is pumping in some more Viagra or somehow trying to get a hard-on so the raincoaters can examine Vivian's asshole in detail. She doesn't gape dramatically, though.
Alex screws Sonya, pops on her pussy and then goes back for some more. No second cum shot though. This starts with Alex sitting on a chair in his editing bay and Sonya, dressed in a plain blue dress standing in front of him. After a few preliminaries they get down to where she comes from (Sweden) and how she came to be in the US (via the Bahamas which sets Alex off on a ramble about Ganja--she corrects him). She speaks good English. When we come to the standard "When did you first have sex?" she answers: "Five". Oh, oh. Ed would go crazy--or start recounting his own experiences--but Sanders who by this time has his hands under her dress and halfway up to her tits, gets excited. His eyes actually light up and a big smile comes over his face. He wants to know all the details. At first she claims loss of memory which as we all know from Springer and the psych people is just a defensive mechanism but then after some panting questioning from Alex she tells us it was with a similarly aged little boy.
"And did you suck his dick?" Alex drools.
"Well, yes, I think so," she replies in a squeaky little voice while trying to control her twitching.
"Did he put it inside?" Alex pants, hands now frantically squeezing her tits from inside her dress. "Of course. We did everything. We worked from illustrations in a book." Sonya squeaks.
It turns out that the next time they did this her mother caught them and the boy was banished from her house. By this time Alex is very definitely ready to go so they screw. Apart from the fact she's not exactly a winner looks-wise, she just lies there during the screw with a bemused look on her face.
Note: the quoted wording is not verbatim but is as close as I remember it. She definitely used the word "illustrations" either indicating the superiority of the Swedish school system or implying these were line drawings rather than actual pictures or both. And she neither squeaks nor twitches.
Politically Incorrect Should Call
Fred writes: Luke, I think the next media call you will get will be from Politically Incorrect. I had a vision. It's going to happen. If you ever get an accounting from Prometheus, I would like to know. I've heard that book publishers were supposed to be on the level. But the fact that nobody calls you to let you know how many units printed in first pressing, how many sold, how many returns, sort of bothers me. Probably too early in the game. But if you had an agent, I think this stuff would be handled more professionally. When you think about it, Sat night was like a five hour Luke F-rd infomercial. A History of X. Powers was very fair with plugs, I thought. Not hairplugs. But bookplugs.
Frank writes: Luke, I do have to say that it was the first time that the Ed Powers' show was actually listenable. What was the dynamic like in that last half-hour?
Luke: The dynamic completely changed in the last hour of the show when Elizabeth came and started making wisecracks, etc... The show became goofy and juvenile.
What did Liz look like?
Luke: A slender attractive brunette with a disturbing lip ring.
Was she high?
Luke: I do not think so.
Is she skinny, fat? What was the reaction on her face when that guy called in and dissed her?
Luke: She recoiled. Did not like it or want to deal with it.
Did you ask her off the air: Is it true you're a crackhead?
Luke: No, I did not ask.
Why did she come to the studio so late? What is the special bond that Ed and Liz have?
Luke: I have no idea. I think she is completely inappropriate for the show. Perhaps she is like a daughter to him.
Why does he not boot her ass?
Luke: Good question.
Was the girl that called in, Serria, was that the porn star Serria? Sounded like her.
Luke: Dunno.
The girl Amanda, the one that was angry, called you a scumbag, did you know her?
Luke: No.
The guy from Burbank, the bodyguard, he sounded drunk. I thought it might be Marc Wallice, but don't think so.
Luke: It was not Marc Wallice.
That guy Mark with the internet service, the one that got all choked up that you were f---ing up people's lives--THEY'RE HUMAN MAN--was that a goof for you or were you touched?
Luke: I think you mean Kevin Korey and yes I was moved.
Sunday morning you ran another "contract girls have aids." Was that a slap in the face to Mark or had you completely forgotten about that call?
Luke: It was just a goof. I was not thinking about Mark or any particular call... I just wanted to show how ludicrous my satires were.
Now, I think you should go into detail on how the Mike Albo joyride came about. Considering your history with him, what made you think this guy was going to turn a new leaf and offer you a job?
Luke: I had this strange belief that we would reconcile etc or at least enjoy a good laugh about our feud. Sometimes I do not have a firm grip on reality and start believing my own satire.
What were your feelings when he left you stranded? And when you arrived home?
Luke: I thought I was an idiot. That I had brought this on myself. That I deserved what happened for (a) being so stupid and naive, and (b) for writing so much vitriol I encourage this type of behavior. When I goof on people on my site, I have to expect them to goof on me. I thought of it as a learning experience.
Have you received any phone calls of support within the Hustler organization?
Luke: None. I'm surprised that Albo's assistant Tim and Larry Flynt Jr went along with this.
Ultimately, do you think you got in that car because of need to be liked?
Luke: In part. To me, most of this "feuding" is just a goof and I forget how seriously some of the recipients of my bile take it.
Skillet: I was disheartened by the ignorance (coverup?) in the industry re: AIDS. If Lawyers and AVN reps (including Ed for that matter) believe that anyone w/ a negative test can keep working, we should be really scared. The Virus lies dormant for 6 to 10 years at times and determining that they are negative now doesn't mean they aren't passing it on just because it hasn't been detected yet. Anyone on the hundreds of women who have had unprotected sex w/ Wallice since '96 should get out of the Biz for everones safety....I don't know how much you print is true, but the lies are nowhere near as catastrophic as the ones AVN and the produces are telling now- AIDS will erupt in the industry like a plague in about 5 years.
P.S. Take care of yourself, man! Don't climb in any more cars w/ those boys. You are smarter than the industry and prove it on a daily basis just by the buttons you are pushing , but be careful. You should get out of the Porn business and I should stop reading about it- I've got the same internal struggles as you, brother.
Brad from Danger Boy: "I guess people are funny. We all pledge our first amendment right to allow fisting girls asses, but these guys dont want you to bash them in a gossip column."
Tommy Nugent, "the official magician of porn," writes: Luke, I was all proud of ya for admitting Paul Cambria kicked your ass in the debate - and somehow that admission and the publication of the transcript seemed to retroactively diminish the actual asskicking. But the whole Motorcycle Phallic thing? You can do better - at least have him riding in a pink chiffon nighty.
Jay writes on RAME: If you have been to his website its pretty clear Mr. [Ed] Powers is a goofy, smug idiot, who takes his "art" a little too seriously. IMHO, of course. Secondly, if Mr. Ford is using condoms during sex with these porn stars, then what more can he do? An HIV test is not only virtually unnecessary for a person who doesnt do drugs or have unprotected sex, but is also rather pointless. Even if he has HIV, he's not going to pass it on during sex with a condom. Its far more risky to engage in the sex that Mr. Powers engages in, current HIV test notwithstanding.
Not that I'm a Luke F-rd fan by any means. I find outing HIV positive people is repugnant. Secondly, I enjoy porn for the fantasy world it creates. I don't need Mr. Ford bringing the HIV reality into my fantasy world. And finally, there are plenty of forms of entertainment that carry risk of serious injury and death. What porn stars do is one of those activities. But everyone is aware of the risk going in, and the vast majority of people experience no ill affects from their job. Therefore, I object to Mr. Ford's raising the spectre of AIDS every other day, and contributing to the panic and call for porn with condoms. So if Powers wants to give him some s--- on his radio show, more power to him.
A documentary filmmaker writes Luke: "That's a possibility. Only trouble is I thought I was making a film on sex and censorship -- that's what I got the money for. Now I find I'm doing the goddamned Luke F-rd Story. You gotta come up with an ending for this thing (that I can film): Luke gets married; Luke gets laid; Luke gets sucked by... Fishbein, Margold, Albo, Labash, any straight chick; Luke gets a job; Luke gets offed... something that's.... unexpected... but meaningful."
Infamous XXX Location
Debbie Picker (dpicker@laweekly.com) from the LA Weekly writes: "Hi Luke -- I'm doing some research (for LA Weekly) on sites used for porn movies. Louie Theroux (who does a show at BBC in England) suggested I contact you. I'm looking for that one, infamous location spot that's been used time and time again in x-rated movies. Do you know any such place in Los Angeles? Thanks -- I appreciate your help."
From Gene Ross
Luke F-rd writes: "Who is Kevin Blatt and why doesn't he like me? I really feel seduced and abandoned by Mike Albo, endangering my life like that. He's a bitch and I don't like him anymore. God did I feel like a fool, wandering around Wittier Blvd without a penny in my pocket. No one spoke English. I've never been to the area before... I thought Mike was going to ask me to write for Hustler."
Gene sez: "It was my understanding there was a fooflaw in the Blatt letter posting, so, the letter runs again, including Blatt's position from within the industry."
Kevin Blatt writes Paul Fishbein: "Dear Paul, I have been keeping up on the latest developments about this Luke F-rd situation, and just wanted to say that I respect and admire the way you conducted yourself on the Ed Powers Show, both you and Mr. Cambria came off extremely polished and extremely professional. Luke F-rd is a cancer in this industry and I am glad to see that you, and your legal representation will not back down from a libelous, pseudo-gossip reporter like him. Free speech is one thing, however this guy has a warped sense of what he deems to be satire, and what seems to be the truth!
"I feel that this cockroach is fully aware of what he is doing, and it is obvious he has singled out people like you and Hirsch out of sheer jealousy. His apology and excuse that he has stopped taking his anti-depressant drug Nardil, I feel is ridiculous. I think what this guy really needs is another sucker punch from a famous producer's brother! Respectfully, Kevin Blatt, Director of Sales and Marketing, YNOT Network."
Gene sez: "Mike Albo left this message about the Luke F-rd Boyle Heights incident yesterday for me: 'Luke F-rd writes that he got back at 1:15 pm. There's no way. That's when we got back. After we ditched him we drove straight back here to the office. There's no f---ing way he could have done all this s--- that he says he did and then gotten back at 1:15. Absolutely no way. But I'm glad he spent $47 including that $2 tip, that cheap little bastard.
"I would finally like to address this thing that this guy XY writes about Luke saying that he should take me up on my offer for a drug test. I said from the start I will do it, BUT, if the test comes back negative, I get to punch Luke right in the nose. If they're going to draw blood out of me or if I'm going to have to piss in a cup, he's going to have to give something back for my trouble. The offer's still open. Basically, all I'm saying, my ditching him [Ford] was symbolic of the whole thing because he's so f---ing over with, he's done with, he can write whatever the f--- he wants about me in the fute, I don't care anymore. He doesn't have anything to say anyway. He's a little f---ing moron, and my only regret is that some Cellos didn't kick his ass on the way back here. But that's the way it goes. But he got ditched, and he can't say it didn't happen to him. Anyway, the next time I see him, I'll probably punch him in the nose just for fun.
"In the interest of accuracy, I don't believe I said, 'I love a guy like that.' [quoted earlier]. I believe I said they've got to love a guy like that, meaning the people in Boyle Heights, people who would want to kick somebody's ass dressed the way he was. Could you please print that clarification so I don't look like a total f---ing homo? I would appreciate that. I would like to urge everybody just to do what I did and just ditch the guy, if not, physically, in spirit. Don't read his site, don't do anything. He's over. Stick a fork in him, he's done. But please print a correction. I didn't say I love a guy like that. I could give a f--- about a guy like that."
The Top 10 Luke F-rd Practical Joke List
Following Mike Albo's instructions, respectfully submitted, is a list of gags and practical jokes that might be pulled on Luke F-rd.
10. Leonarto August shows up at Luke's surprise birthday party
9. Feed Luke verifiable information
8. Kidnap Luke's tasteful blue chiffon suit so he can't go on TV
7. Inform Conway & Steckler Luke isn't an expert
6. Ask Prometheus Books for a refund
5. Issue reports that Luke bodyguards for an unnamed Mafioso
4. Steve Hirsch offers Luke a job writing for Vivid
3. Proclaim Luke F-rd day in Boyle Heights
2. Start rumor that Luke lives in Boyle Heights
1. Publishers Clearing House sends Luke check for $49 covering cab fare and tip
Justin Hoffman writes: "Dear Mr. Ross, On your site you wrote the following: "Every Broadway show generally gets an off-Broadway tryout. Before Luke F-rd and attorney Paul Cambria squared off for their nearly three-hour debate on the Ed Powers show [KLSX, 97.1 FM] Saturday night, they did a "tryout" stint on the Wayne Resnick show earlier that evening on KFI, 640 AM....
"With all due respect, the Wayne Resnick Show was in fact the "Broadway show" that you refer to. Ed Powers was merely sloppy seconds. Even though Powers' show is dedicated to the industry that you cover, that doesn't mean that the Wayne Resnick Show deserves to be slighted in the way that you wrote about it. I think that you should give credit where credit is due. The Wayne Resnick show had the debate first - everything on Powers' show was mere repetition of what had already occurred. You should congratulate him on the scoop rather than giving him an indirect slap in the face. If Powers show is such a big event, then why didn't he have an exclusive on this debate? Say whatever you want about this, but nothing will change the fact that Resnick brought Ford and Cambria together first. Just because you may rely on Powers for your source material doesn't mean that his is the big "Broadway show".
"The Wayne Resnick Show was not a "tryout" - it was the MAIN EVENT! I'll stack Resnick's show up against anyone's show, anytime....Respectfully, Justin Hoffman Producer - The Wayne Resnick Show, KFI - AM 640 www.kfi640.com."
Gene [Ross] sez: "In the immortal words of Luke F-rd, you raise some very valid points and I'm sure you're speaking from the heart, and I hear you. That Resnick aired first, he certainly had the "scoop". In that context, your comments parallel a situation that occured in the business yesterday. Luke F-rd got 'abandoned' in East LA. I was made aware of the situation at 1:15 pm and wrote the story, accordingly. However, my site's update usually doesn't get posted until later in the afternoon usually around 4pm. Meanwhile, Ford, from his personal experience, wrote the story and had it up on his site before I did. Splitting hairs, Luke certainly had the "scoop," though we both had dibs on the story from different perspectives. I simply made an editorial decision that this wasn't one of those world-shattering stories where I'd break precedent and do an "extra" to try to beat someone to the punch. And I certainly wouldn't want to have been in Luke's place.
"Now, the fact that your show precedes Powers by two hours is technically arguable from the scoopage standpoint. Resnick offered a slightly different perspective and it was, by all means, an excellent and extremely entertaining show. "My "off Broadway" comments were not meant as a put down of either Resnick or his show but a metaphor to suggest that Cambria and Ford, by going at it once, allowed themselves perspective, second-thought, some internal editing and sentence-polishing the second go-round. Obviously, your show enjoyed the element of spontaneity and surprise, which, one might argue made it a better show. Powers, however, had the advantage of what I just said plus a larger time allotment for more information and clarification to be aired. In the final analysis, the argument, I suppose, is basically settled by ascertaining who offered or was offered the debate first. But that reduces it to a matter of a pissing contest. If I might make one final point, and I say this with all due respect, no one from your show went out of their way to alert the industry so people familiar with the subject could tune in. Then, again, that's where Powers enjoyed the advantage and took the full opportunity to establish a media alert. Bearing in mind, of course, this all pretty much happened at the last minute, so that might not be a totally fair observation." (Taken without permission from www.geneross.com)
timlake@xplormedia.com writes and calls out from the wonderfully sexy homegrownvideo.com [to www.geneross.com]: "I don't want to sound too Swiss here, but from my mountain I see two sides of the same coin with regards to the debate around Luke. "Judging from the complaint you had regarding your journalism ethics and your rebuke, I would have to say that you are certainly not immune to the same flak that Luke gets. Just the same, Mike Albo can tell you both a tale or two about being a controversial editor. That certainly does not make any of you brothers, but the manner in which all of you justify yourselves does indeed establish your creditials and lend credence to your sincerity and earnestness toward your work.
"Reading the transcription of Luke's comments, I would say that he comes off with a sense of humor and self knowledge about what he publishes. How people relate to his form of satire is their problem. Remember, people thought Jonathan Swift was serious when he advocated eating babies. I appreciate that Luke creates as much debate as he does. Mind you, he gave us a low ethics rating for I have no idea what reason, except all the broken promises made to us that we were blamed for. However I have no real reason to promote or demote him."