Sunday, July 28, 2002

West Nile Virus Found on Grounds of White House. DRUDGE REPORT -- A mosquito alert has been issued at the White House -- after a dead bird discovered on the mansion's grounds tests positive for West Nile virus. "Preliminary tests show the presence of West Nile," a health official said this weekend of the decomposing crow found by the Secret Service near a fountain on the South Lawn. "Mosquitoes spread the disease, all parties in the area should be on guard." ... But one White House staffer who contacted the DRUDGE REPORT was less confident. "More people died last year from this thing than all who died from the anthrax outbreak! Hell, I'm worried." West Nile has killed 18 people since its appearance in the United States in 1999, and caused notable infections in 161, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infected birds or mosquitoes have appeared in 28 states so far this year. (07/28/02) [Synergic Earth News] 6:23:19 PM    comment []

To Reach This Film School, No Commute Is Required. Launched in May by UCLA and film schools in Australia and England, the for-profit online film school is believed to be the first of its kind. The school is associated financially and academically with UCLA but has yet to be accredited. So far, it offers only two courses: "Screenwriting Fundamentals" and "Elements of Great Filmmaking," taught by UCLA's Richard Walter and the University of Arizona's Yuki Makino. There is also a free seminar, "Shoot Out!," about the day-to-day realities of Hollywood filmmaking, hosted by Peter Guber, chief of Mandalay Entertainment, and Peter Bart, editor in chief of the trade paper Variety. [LA Times Global Film School Shootout Online [ericfreeman.com] 7:09:07 AM    comment []