I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother’s Day. I know I sure did with my little gifts

After a strike that lasted longer than most thought it would, writers laid down their picket signs and once again picked up their keyboards, to the delight of television audiences everywhere:

More than 92 percent of the Writers Guild of America members who cast ballots Tuesday in Los Angeles and New York voted to end their work stoppage over residuals for writing in the digital age, including new media and the Internet. The new deal is for three years.

“The strike is over. Our membership has voted, and writers can go back to work,” said Patric Verrone, president of the WGA’s West chapter.

While the new deal does not give the writers everything that they had asked for, it is a better deal than what they had previously:

Verrone said the WGA achieved two of three goals through negotiations with the studios.

The first goal relates to writers’ “jurisdiction” in new media, Verrone said, meaning that any content written by guild members specifically for new media, such as the Internet or cell phones, will be covered by their contract.

The second goal relates to reuse of content in new media, Verrone said.

The agreement bases payment for reuses on a distributor’s gross formula for residuals, “so that when they get paid, we get paid,” he said.

It is the “first time in our history that a new delivery system pays on a residual formula superior to the prior existing system,” Verrone said.

The third goal, which Verrone said the guild did not achieve, was to shore up writers’ shares of the revenue from animation and reality television.

“Giving up animation and reality was a heartbreaking thing for me personally,” he said. “But it was more important that we make a deal that benefited the membership, the town as a whole, that got people back to work and that solved the biggest problems in new media.”

Well, maybe next time.

The new deal also means that workers who were affected by the strike, but not directly involved in it, can go back to work as well…people like makeup artists, hairdressers, set designers, camera operators, and the person who operates the Teleprompter.  It was my belief that the studios held out so long because they believed that by creating collateral damage (the non-striking workers affected by the strike), writers would feel pressured to cave in and go back to work.  It does seem to have worked somewhat, as the strike drug on for months, workers were fired or laid off, and the WGA eventually did have to concede on one of their points.

This also means that the Oscars can now go on as planned, with scripted banter and A-list stars.  Had the strike continued, many stars said they would not cross the picket lines out of solidarity, and the planners would be forced to rely on either improvised jokes or letting Jon Stewart write his own material for the hours-long telecast.  And actors who have waited a lifetime for an award can now rest assured that the show will go on.

Of course, some late-night shows went back on the air before the end of the strike, so that the jobs of their crews could be salvaged (a precedent set by none other than the late, great Johnny Carson during the 1988 writer’s strike), and some shows negotiated deals with their writers independent of the greater strike.

But don’t set up your Tivos just yet…it will take about four weeks to get new episodes of comedies back on the air, and six to eight weeks to get drama episodes aired.

It’s that time again Glosslip readers. Tonight’s segment will feature a return of ManBalm’s Matt Sussman of the Futon Report to discuss how Jessica Simpson cursed Tony Romo and the Cowboys.

We’ll also be joined by my regular co-host and partner in crime Josh Hathaway from ConfessionsOfAFanboy.com where we will discuss this week’s top stories including Britney Spears and her upcoming custody hearing tomorrow, and a new feature with Glosslip writer k called “You Can’t Fix Stupid.” This week’s subject: Amy Winehouse.

If you would like to join the discussion, the call in number is (646) 478-0139, or if you just want to listen to the show click here. Don’t forget the chat room is open during the live feed, so hey, stop by and say something nasty!

The legendary Yoko Ono is being interviewed by Blogcritics.org’s very own Eric Olsen, a personal friend of mine

BlogTalkRadio has launched a new daily show hosted by Shaun Daily, and Glosslip has a regular entertainment feature with K and I giving the top entertainment news as regular feature on Shaun’s show. You can check in daily around 7:00pm EST, or 4:00pm PT to hear k or I, or listen to the whole show which begins at 6pm ET/3pm PT.

Today is a special segment (we were kind enough to let Eric take over to interview Yoko) and if you can’t listen in now, please check out the archived segment later. Click here to listen now.

I am starting to feel like Nancy Grace, who in many ways I am very much like. We’re both bitches. Anyway, from the dad who threw his four kids, ranging from ages 3 to a few months, to hiker in NC and now this missing pregnant marine, I am really starting to wonder what the hell is wrong with people, our law enforcement and this country.

CNN is reporting Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, who was 8 months pregnant when she disappeared three weeks ago, was only reported missing publicly yesterday. This abduction and harming of pregnant women is becoming a damn epidemic. No wonder celebs don’t want to reveal their pregnancy. Who can blame them.

Here’s some details from the CNN report on Maria’s case:

Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach could give birth at any time, Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown told the Jacksonville, North Carolina, Daily News on Monday.

The sheriff’s department said Lauterbach’s mother said that her daughter, of Montgomery, Ohio, had witnessed an incident at Camp Lejeune and was to testify about it.

Sheriff’s department officials said evidence causes them to be concerned about Lauterbach’s disappearance, WITN reported.

The Marine’s car was found Monday at Jacksonville’s bus station, Brown told the Daily News, and her cell phone had been found at Camp Lejeune’s front gate on December 20.

Her mother reported her missing on December 19, and told the sheriff’s department “that she was very suspicious that something bad may have happened to her daughter,” the department said in a news release.

What’s also suspicious is the amount of time it took local law enforcement to begin their investigation. According to them, is wasn’t until there was “suspicious activity” in her checking account that they final launched a missing person’s report. Imagine the poor family who’ve been worrying about their PREGNANT daughter for three weeks, only to have our own government and state authorities sit on it on the case until they felt like it.

Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said the authorities at Camp Lejune didn’t raise any red flags and therefore everyone “assumed” the woman went home to visit her family for the holidays. This doesn’t add up. The military have very strict requirements about leave and keeping track of where personnel are at all times. Not to mention the family listed her as missing within a few days of not being able to get in touch with her, and her own roommate stated concerns for her whereabouts. Also, there’s the whole ominous “testifying as a witness for something she saw on base” thing that’s really troubling.

Let’s pray Maria left town on her own and is hiding out somewhere safe. One would think she’d contact her family, which they say she did almost daily.

Way to go Marines, way to go Onslow police, you incompetent jackasses.

MomLogic, a wonderful site I found recently, interviewed Jane Hambleton a mother in Iowa who sold her 19-year old son’s car after she found alcohol in it. Jane and her husband bought the car for their son around Thanksgiving, with the stipulation that he could not drink and drive or have alcohol in the car. Her son, Steven, broke the rules and lost his car.

Here’s the ad:

This is the kind of mom I hope I am when my youngest become teens. This mom is a great example of how tough love really is the best method for dealing with kids who don’t follow the rules and act irresponsibly.

You can read Jane’s interview with MomLogic at the above link. This story really resonated with me as I try desperately to reconcile my views on parenting with the world around me. Of course it’s easier to ignore your kids and let them do what they want. Hey, life’s hard enough, who wants to waste time hassling their kid about boozing it up in the car, when you have other things to do, right? It seems today’s parents, especially the parents of the privileged and the famous, can’t be bothered to teach their kids right from wrong. But fortunately, real people are taking the role of parenting seriously and they should be applauded.

Being tough on your kid’s can be really difficult and takes a lot of effort, but better they learn valuable mistakes BEFORE they make deadly ones that cost them or someone else their life. Just ask Lane Garrison.

Great job Jane, you are one excellent role model!

Wow, what a week in celebrity news. Those of us who were hoping to take a little break from the chaos and enjoy the final days of our winter solstice were sadly disappointed, or elated depending on your viewpoint.

For tonight’s show, my special (and regular) co-host, Josh Hathaway of Confessions of A FanBoy, and asst. music editor at Blogcritics will be joining me to as we analyze Britney Spears’ major meltdown and perpetual rehabber, Lindsay Lohan’s brief hiatus from her new-found sobriety.

If you wish to join in the analysis, please give us a call at (646) 478-0139 or click here to listen in on the show or join us in the chat room.

Glosslip Radio is very honored to announce a special guest for this week’s show, Chris Butler, the Waitresses brainchild (big hits include, theme song for 80’s TV show, “Square Pegs,” “I Know What Boys Like,” “Christmas Wrapping”,) Tin Huey guitarist and producer for artists like Joan Osborne, Freedy Johnston, The db’s (and of course the Waitresses). Chris may be famous for many things, least of which being the “seminal new waver, blah, blah, and etc.,” but more importantly, he’s also a really smart, funny and thoughtful guy.

Chris’ blog, Jammed.On.On chronicles not only his musical endeavors, but various aspects of his life. In person, Chris’ irreverent and self-effacing charm would never belie the cool genius within.

Chris will join us to discuss “The Very Best Christmas Songs,” a list I compiled with ConfessionsOfAFanboy writer Josh Hathaway. We will also be joined by Eric Olsen, Blogcritics.org publisher, and editor/writer of the Encyclopedia of Record Producers (in which Chris Butler is a featured producer).

It is no coincidence that at the top of my best Christmas songs list is “Christmas Wrapping.” I, like Chris, am a seminal New Waver too, except I just listen, absorb and regurgitate the songs of my youth, while Chris creates the songs which helped give my life meaning. I have a confession to make, Chris is kind of a hero of mine and despite a somewhat embarrassing, but deeply sincere incident of fawning and gushing, he still treats me with respect.

Why can’t all famous people be so cool? On that note, please tune in tomorrow night, 10:00pm EST for what is going to be a great show, with great guests, discussing great songs. GREAT!

Glosslip Radio Show, Sunday, Dec. 23
10:00pm EST, Click Here To Listen

Call in Number (646) 478-0139

I love, love, love Christmas. Mostly in a Clark Griswoldian way (we go for the extreme lighting). I love to embrace the somewhat silly traditions and cultural expressions which center around a fat, jolly guy in a red velvet suit. In my heart though, as cliched and fruity as it might sound, I truly “get” the spirit of the holiday and of course the religious connotations it all brings. From the exchanging of inappropriate gifts, to the crushing lines at stores, to the custardy libations that add on a few extra inches around my waist, Christmas is a time of cheer.

And as ubiquitous as the clearance sales are on every corner, the music of the season can either add to your joy, or enhance your throbbing headache. Since we’ve already covered those Christmas songs most likely to induce vomiting, we now present mine and Josh’s list of the season’s best offerings.

But wait, there’s more…

After that last post, this is where I will be spending my Christmas. Maybe I will see you there!

(Thanks again D-Bomb)