Seattle Newspaper for the People by the People

Author

Admin - page 11

Admin has 366 articles published.

Biography: The Life and Career of Woody Johnson

Woody Johnson Biography

Over the past several decades, businessman Woody Johnson has built a highly successful career. Not only has he seen immense success in the world of business, but as his career matured, he has extended his attentions to both philanthropy and diplomacy. Johnson has accomplished much over the course of his lengthy career and gives much of the credit to his life experiences and the support of his family.

Early Life and Education

From birth, Woody Johnson had strong ties to the world of business due to the family he hails from. Woody Johnson is the great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I, co-founder of the now-multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson. This has led many to deem Johnson the heir to Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer goods fortune.

Johnson was born on April 12, 1947 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His parents were prominent philanthropist Betty Wold Johnson and Robert Wood Johnson III, former president of Johnson & Johnson.

While growing up alongside his four siblings in northern New Jersey, Johnson had the opportunity to attend the esteemed Millbrook school, a preparatory academy located in Dutchess County, New York. Later, he would go on to attend the University of Arizona, where he earned his degree. Throughout his teen and young adult years, Johnson spent his summers working at Johnson & Johnson.

NFL Ownership

After graduating from college, Woody Johnson swiftly went on to build a successful and well-rounded career.

Perhaps most notably, Johnson is widely known as the benefactor who purchased the New York Jets in 2000. Johnson purchased the Jets for $635 million, and the team would later go on to be appraised for $3.2 billion as of 2019. Johnson served as the acting owner and CEO of the Jets until 2017, when a career in international politics beckoned.

Currently, Woody Johnson co-owns the Jets with his brother Christopher Johnson. Although he eventually passed the CEO role onto his brother Christopher, Johnson is still involved with the team. According to Christopher, Jets insiders expect Woody Johnson to soon return to his role as CEO of the team. Once this occurs, Christopher will become the football team’s vice-president.

Political Career

Although Johnson had been involved in political fundraising for a number of years, it wasn’t until 2017 that he took on an international diplomatic position. Impressively, before Johnson took on this role, he had no diplomatic experience under his belt. Nevertheless, despite a lack of first-hand experience, Johnson has always had a strong passion for supporting US-UK ties, which he believes to be important to ensuring the long-term well-being of the United States. Johnson also has a strong interest in military history, and it is his understanding of the post-war partnership formed between the United States and the United Kingdom that reinforced his diplomatic beliefs.

His passion and interests placed Johnson at the forefront of those considered for a diplomatic role that would serve both the United States and the United Kingdom. In 2017, former President Donald Trump selected Johnson for the role of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He served admirably in this role for four years, until his departure in January 2021 with the election of a new administration.

Philanthropic Efforts

Truly, it is not surprising that Johnson has invested so much of his own personal time and funds into philanthropic causes. Woody Johnson’s mother was Betty Wold Johnson, a renowned philanthropist who had a charitable career spanning many decades. In fact, Betty’s philanthropic work continued up until her death in 2020, at the age of 99. Certainly, Johnson has made an effort to follow in his mother’s footsteps. However, while Betty Wold Johnson focused her philanthropic efforts on the arts, a large portion of Woody Johnson’s charitable donations have funded critical medical research.

Notably, Woody Johnson raised money and lobbied in an effort to increase federal funding for diabetes and lupus research. In his efforts to support diabetes research, Woody Johnson served as the chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Currently, Woody Johnson is serving as the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR)’s founding chairman. He founded the organization in 1999, after his daughter was diagnosed with Lupus. Since then, Johnson has worked to fund further research regarding the disease.

Johnson works prominently with the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust and serves as a trustee. In fact, among current members of the Johnson family, he is the sole individual to be invited to serve on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation board.

The Personal Life and Family of Woody Johnson

Woody Johnson has always been highly invested in his family life and is considered a true family man. 

Johnson first married in 1977 to Nancy Johnson, a former fashion model. The couple went on to have three children. However, they would eventually divorce in 2001, and Johnson did not remarry until a number of years later. In 2009, Woody Johnson married Suzanne Johnson, who is his current wife. Suzanne currently serves as the equities managing director at Sandler, O’Neill & Partners. With Suzanne, Woody Johnson has had two more children and now resides in Palm Beach, Florida.

Marc Kasowitz: Biography

Marc Kasowitz

If you’re seeking one of the strongest trial lawyers in the United States, it won’t be long before you come across the name Marc Kasowitz. However, aside from legal professionals, many may not know him. Who is this attorney with such a lengthy and hard-hitting career? Today, we’d like to give you a brief overview of the life and career of Marc Kasowitz, a partner at Kasowitz Benson Torres in New York City.

Upbringing and Education

Marc Elliot Kasowitz was born on June 28, 1952, to Robert and Felice Kasowitz. He has always had a close-knit family, including his fraternal twin brother, Stephan, as well as Susan, Marc’s younger sister.

His father saw success running a scrap metal business. Marc’s grandparents put this business into motion after they immigrated to the United States from their native Poland. Eventually, Robert would inherit this business after a lifetime of learning the ins and outs of the venture. This strong work ethic, passed from generation to generation, certainly had an impact on Marc Kasowitz himself.

Marc Kasowitz attended New Haven’s Hopkins School, where he was fortunate to receive a high-quality education from a young age. He went to Yale University, thanks to his dedication to his coursework and his strong desire to continue focusing on his education. From Yale, he earned his bachelor’s degree in American history.

However, earning his undergraduate degree wasn’t the end of Marc’s education—far from it. With a clear vision of where he saw his career heading, he went on to earn his JD from Cornell Law School. This eventually developed into Marc’s lifelong career, beginning his journey as an esteemed legal professional.

Marc Kasowitz Interview with Think Tech Hawaii

Career and Professional Accomplishments

Since entering the field of law, Marc Kasowitz has had a strong track record as a formidable trial attorney, more than capable of winning just about any case he puts his mind to. As such, this has led him to accumulate a long list of professional accomplishments.

Early in his legal career, Marc worked at Mayer Brown law firm. This is where he stayed until 1993, when he decided to help establish Kasowitz Benson Torres. Kasowitz Benson Torres is a highly successful law firm with a team of 19 accomplished lawyers. Two of Mayer Brown’s clients also left the firm to begin their partnership with Kasowitz Benson Torres. These partnerships would, of course, prove to be fruitful. Kasowitz Benson Torres quickly established itself as a strong firm with an impressive record of wins across the many cases they’ve participated in.

According to Benchmark Litigation, Marc has become one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. This is far from the only recognition he’s received over the years. For instance, the National Law Journal also honored Marc Kasowitz as a Litigation Trailblazer due to his game-changing approach to his legal work.

Much of Marc’s experience lies in the realm of complex commercial litigation, where he has proven to be an invaluable adversary for every party he represents. His cases have fallen under a wide variety of categories, including banking, antitrust, corporate governance, and breach of contract. Marc has shown himself to be a versatile trial attorney, rather than one who restricts himself to cases in just one narrow area. Instead, he has dedicated his career to developing the broadest possible legal knowledge he can achieve—and he’s continuing to learn and grow to this day.

Marc Kasowitz has also directed a wide array of internal investigations on behalf of management, special committees, and boards of directors throughout his career. He has performed these investigations during instances of alleged conflicts of interest, corporate misfeasance, insider trading, challenges to board authority, market timing, accounting fraud, market manipulation, and even obstruction of justice.

So, what are some of Marc’s most impressive accomplishments as a trial attorney? There are more than a few of them, without a doubt.

One famous case that Marc has become known for involves Woodstock 50, a festival intended to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original 1969 event. The legal battle was fought against a former financing partner of the large-scale event, Dentsu. Dentsu is a marketing and advertising company from Japan, which attempted to abruptly withdraw its financing of Woodstock 50. However, thanks to the strong evidence and points made by Marc, the New York Supreme Court ruled that Dentsu lacked the right to unilaterally cancel the festival, based upon the contract it had previously signed.

Another example of Marc’s courtroom prowess can be seen when he represented MBIA against Credit Suisse. In this case, MBIA was determined to recover for breaches of warranties and representations, all related to RMBS and insured by MBIA. Marc participated in a two-week-long bench trial after the case found itself in the New York Supreme Court. In the end, Marc proved that Credit Suisse breached representations and warranties. Consequently, Credit Suisse was found liable for more than $600 million worth of damages.

Finally, the third instance of Marc’s legal success occurred when he represented ACA Financial Guaranty in court. ACA Financial Guaranty is a large bond insurer, positioning itself against Goldman Sachs and Paulson & Co., a well-known hedge fund. This $120 million fraud suit occurred after Goldman Sachs and Paulson & Co. fraudulently induced ACA Financial Guaranty to provide a financial guaranty for Goldman Sachs’ own ABACUS CDO. This occurred when ACA was deceived about Paulson & Co.’s financial interest and role in this transaction.

Thanks to Marc’s argument (which he presented to the New York Court of Appeals) a fresh precedent was set on the standards for reliance in instances of fraud in New York state.

Marc Kasowitz has had a long and impressive career as one of the leading trial lawyers in the country. But, of course, several decades into his career, Marc has yet to slow down—he continues to thrive as a tough-as-nails legal professional, giving the parties he represents the most robust possible legal defense. So, who’s to say what he’ll accomplish next? It’ll be something big, that’s for sure.

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marckasowitz

Getting the health care you need during COVID-19

King County residents have been turning to medical virtual visits, also known as telemedicine, more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic.  While telemedicine companies have been around for years, the pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in virtual visits as primary care doctors, specialists and hospitals began offering the service as a way to help keep patients safe. 

Now that medical offices and hospitals are accepting patients again for in-person visits and elective procedures, you may be wondering if you should return to your doctor’s office or stick to a virtual visit.  Rest assured, your health care providers can help you decide what’s best as they work to ensure safe care for patients and staff. This includes changing the ways they deliver care like screening patients ahead of time to help determine if it’s best to go to a medical office or stay at home.    

In-person Visits

If it’s determined that an in-person visit is best for you, you’ll find that to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, many facilities are taking the following steps: 

·Screening arriving patients for COVID-19 symptoms and providing a mask and hand hygiene supplies before entering the center.

·Screening every employee for COVID-19 every shift and requiring them to wear masks at all times and appropriate personal protective equipment.

·Treating suspected and symptomatic COVID-19 patients in designated areas only.

·Promoting physical distancing with new clinic layouts.

·Cleaning and disinfecting exam rooms between each patient visit, and regularly disinfecting high-traffic and high-touch areas.

Virtual Visits

If you don’t require in-person attention, a virtual visit is still a good option. Many people are choosing virtual visits in non-emergency situations for routine follow-ups and non-life-threatening conditions. This option allows you to consult your doctor or other health care providers in your network via a secure video or phone appointment, all in the comfort of your home. Before your telehealth visits:

·Make a list of all the medications – prescription and over-the-counter – that you take and include the name, address and phone number of your pharmacy.

·Write down details about your symptoms, concerns, pain and feelings.

·Take digital photos of any injury, rash or other visible concern.

·Have your insurance ID card available.

·Use a phone, tablet or computer that’s connected to the internet. If you’ve never video-chatted before, consider a practice run with a friend or family member to work out the process and check the microphone and speakers. Headphones or ear buds provide better sound quality and more privacy.

·Have your home thermometer, bathroom scale, glucometer or blood-pressure monitor nearby. 

Many area medical offices offer both virtual and in-person visits with extra precautions in place.  In the Greater Seattle Area, patients and their caregivers who visit a physician who is part of the Seattle Medical Group (SMG) will have their temperatures taken while they wait in their cars, and then they are brought directly to the examination room.

Whether you choose a virtual or in-person visit, check with your health insurance provider to see if they’ve taken steps to help ease the burden during the health crisis. For example, Humana is waiving cost sharing (including copays, coinsurance and deductibles) for in-network primary care, outpatient behavioral health and virtual visits for our Medicare Advantage members for the remainder of the calendar year.

Getting the care you need is always important. Consider these options to stay safe and healthy. And remember, for life-threatening emergencies, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or suicidal thoughts, always call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. Bottom line, don’t delay care because you are worried about contracting COVID-19.

By Richard Smith, MD, Intermountain Regional Vice President of Health Services Humana

James Gunn Biography

Screenwriter and Director James Gunn

James Francis Gunn Jr. (James Gunn) was raised in Manchester, MO and St. Louis, MO, after being born in St. Louis on August 5th, 1966. His father, James F. Gunn, was an attorney. He and his wife, Leota, raised six children together. The family raised their children in a Roman Catholic home, and James Jr. has stated that prayer plays an important part in his life. In terms of his feelings on religion, Gunn has said, “My personal take is that there is a role for spirituality in some people’s lives, and I think that a belief in God can be a good thing for a great amount of people…I believe faith and spiritual belief is a very, very personal thing, and if I started applying what I believe to everybody else it would be unfair to everybody’s individuality and I really hate that.”

After graduating from the Jesuit St. Louis University High School in 1984, James Gunn attended Saint Louis University and film school at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, earning a bachelor’s degree from the former. Later, James completed his master’s degree at Columbia University in New York City, with a Master of Fine Arts in prose writing.

James’ career has included various work in music and screenwriting for film and television. He was the founder and lead singer of a band called The Icons in St. Louis in 1989. The band attained some success with two songs, “Walking Naked” and “Sunday”, which were featured in the film Tromeo and Juliet, but stopped working together in the mid-1990s. Other work he has done in music includes compositions for the films Movie 43, Scooby-Doo, and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

In addition to composing music, Gunn first found success in the film industry with his screenplay for Scooby-Doo in 2002. With this hit under his belt, he went on to write the sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and the remake of Dawn of the Dead in 2004. In 2006, James tried his hand at directing, with the horror-comedy Slither. This film can be found on Rotten Tomatoes’ 50 Best Ever Reviewed Horror Movies.

After his short films, Humanzee! and Sparky and Mikaela in 2008, James did a short-form web series, James Gunn’s PG Porn, for Spike.com. That same year, there was a reality show on VH1 called Scream Queens, for which Gunn was a judge. On this show, ten aspiring actresses were competing for a role in the movie Saw VI. In 2010, he went on to release the dark comedy superhero satire Super, which starred Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson.

The year 2014 was a big one for James Gunn, with Guardians of the Galaxy, which he co-wrote and directed for Marvel Studios. After Jack Black and Dan Gilroy criticized the rise of superhero movies, James struck back with a well-versed Facebook post, in which he said, “…if you think people who make superhero movies are dumb, come out and say we’re dumb. But if you…think you put more love into your characters than…I do…you are simply mistaken”.

After finding this success in 2014, James went on to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in 2017 and then directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2019. He was also hired to write and direct The Suicide Squad that same year.

James Gunn met his former wife, Jenna Fischer, through his brother Sean in St. Louis. Sean knew Fischer through plays he acted in with her in high school. James and Jenna were married on October 7th, 2000, in a ceremony where screen actor, writer, producer, and director Lloyd Kauffman gave a speech. Their marriage lasted for seven years, but, unfortunately, they announced that they were separating on September 5th, 2007, and divorced in 2008. The two still have a cordial relationship, and Jenna actually made the suggestion that Gunn hire her friend and co-star on The Office, Rainn Wilson, for his film, Super. Although he is not currently married, James Gunn has been in a relationship with Jennifer Holland for the past five years. He continues to work in the film industry and looks forward to his upcoming sequel to Suicide Squad, known as The Suicide Squad, which is slated for release in August of 2021. James Gunn Reveals Full Character List, Offers First Look At Action-Packed Pic – DC FanDome.

Social Channels:

https://www.instagram.com/jamesgunn/?hl=en

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/james_gunn – Most popular movies by James Gunn.

James Gunn to Celebrate 55th Birthday with The Suicide Squad Release

James Gunn will celebrate his 55th birthday a day before his newest, much-anticipated project, The Suicide Squad, to be released August 6, 2021.

Though he hasn’t yet announced how he plans to spend the 24 hours leading up to The Suicide Squad’s summer 2021 movie theater debut, Gunn did comment on his experience writing and directing the film in a recent sneak peek trailer shown during DC’s virtual FanDome event. Regarding The Suicide Squad, or Suicide Squad 2, as it has been unofficially dubbed, Gunn stated, “This has been truly the greatest, most exciting journey of my life making this film.”

What a way for Gunn to celebrate this remarkable journey as a day after his 55th birthday, he will finally get to experience the crowds’ reactions to his work. David Ayer’s 2016 rendition, Suicide Squad, did fall short of critics’ expectations but still quickly became a fan favorite, particularly for those familiar with DC Extended Universe. Ayer’s interpretation raked in nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars. Though no clear predictions as to the success of Suicide Squad 2 have been made, fans of DC are anxiously awaiting its arrival to theaters.

The final cut of The Suicide Squad is described as a “gritty 1970s war movie” by producer Peter Safran. James Gunn’s take on the Suicide Squad crew is expected to take a darker, bloodier turn when compared with the Ayer’s version. It also features many new faces. Returning cast members include Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. Other familiar characters found in The Suicide Squad are Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag and Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang.

New to Gunn’s on-screen vision are familiar names playing unfamiliar faces, including John Cena as Peacemaker, Alice Braga (of Queen of the South fame) as Sol Soria, and Idris Elba as Bloodsport. Elba was featured in the FanDome sneak peek, shedding light on his own opinion of the film when he stated, “You kind of sit there and go, ‘How did they do that?’” Elba’s character, Bloodsport, is being introduced in The Suicide Squad as a member of Task Force X who attempted (and failed) to assassinate Superman with a kryptonite bullet.

Other DC Extended Universe characters to make an appearance in James Gunn’s Suicide Squad 2 include The Thinker played by Peter Capaldi, Michael Rooker as Savant, and Sean Gunn, James’ brother, as Weasel. Crafted to be a standalone sequel that does not require the viewer to have seen 2016’s Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad contains characters hand-selected by James Gunn without interference or refusal from DC. A native of Missouri, James Gunn is a lifelong fan of horror and began making scripted films at the age of 12. Now 54 years of age, James is building upon his reputation for directing otherworldly films (such as 2006’s Slither and both Guardians of the Galaxy) with The Suicide Squad. Gunn is currently working on the third installment of Guardians of the Galaxy, which is rumored for a late 2021 or 2022 release.

James Gunn gets engaged to actress Jennifer Holland

Together since 2015, the director of “The Suicide Squad” James Gunn, and actress Jennifer Holland are officially engaged.

The happy couple made the announcement Instagram official during what appears to be a picturesque getaway in the mountains. James Gunn shared a photo of his new fiancé rocking a beautiful engagement ring on her left hand to his social media page, while Jennifer Holland followed suit, posting a photo of the pair to her account shortly after.

Thousands of people showed their support and offered their well-wishes and congratulations for this exciting announcement. Messages of love and joy poured in from their colleagues into their comment sections. Celebrities like Viola Davis, who worked with the couple in Suicide Squad and the HBO Max spin-off series Peacemaker, showed support. Additional happy sentiments came from other Peacemaker cast members Steve Agee, Star Trek actor Wil Wheaton, and Guardians of the Galaxy star Karen Gillan.

Though he took to Twitter instead of Instagram, John Cena (also a Suicide Squad and actor of the titular character in Peacemaker) went a step ahead of the rest. Not only did he offer his congratulations to the couple but may or may not have offered to preside over the wedding as Peacemaker himself!

Gunn and Holland were reportedly first introduced by a mutual friend, Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luther on the popular series Smallville, which was a coming-of-age story of a young Clark Kent. Holland recalls the beginning of their relationship saying, “I just told him my whole life story.” On their first date, “we spent like seven hours together and that’s it. That’s how it started.”

Since the couple first started dating in 2015, they have not only been romantically involved, but professionally, too. James Gunn is famously known for writing and directing The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and the trilogy Guardians of the Galaxy. Jennifer Holland plays a national security agent, Emilia Harcourt in both The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.

In season one of Peacemaker, Harcourt’s main objective was working on the black ops team to help fight against a butterfly-like parasitic alien species that has taken on human form. The mission was called “Project Butterfly” and required Holland to put her competitive gymnast skills to the test with stunts and fight choreography. Holland is also known for her roles in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love and her appearance in season two of American Horror Story.

The first time Holland and Gunn’s work paths crossed was when Holland acted and Gunn produced the superhero horror film Brightburn, which was released in 2019. The two were already a couple and even though they didn’t work directly together on this project, their professional careers together officially started here. It wouldn’t be until 2021, working on the blockbuster hit The Suicide Squad when the couple would finally work together as actor and director.

Originally, Holland’s character was only expected to be a one-and-done supporting role, but Gunn had a spark of inspiration during the pandemic. A creative surge led him to create the spin-off action series, Peacemaker. Here Holland would get to play Emilia Harcourt again and evolve the character even more than the couple ever dreamed before. Peacemaker, starring John Cena, continues the story of The Suicide Squad and has become one of the most popular streamed series of 2022.

Holland and Gunn have certainly stood the test of time. Some couples, especially in the entertainment industry, find it difficult to work together, but Holland says it’s only brought the two closer together. On working on the spin-off series, Holland said, “It was great. We had an absolutely amazing time. At the end of it, our personal relationship was closer for the experience. We got really lucky that we work really well together and it just works for us. Now they’ll have plenty to keep them busy with not only a wedding to plan, but their film and tv careers showing no signs of slowing down. Peacemaker was renewed for a second season and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in progress. Holland is anticipated to be returning to season two of Peacemaker in her role as Emilia Harcourt.

This is Jennifer Holland’s first engagement, while James Gunn was formerly married to The Office star Jenna Fischer. Gunn and Fischer ended their eight-year marriage in 2008.

Recent News:

James Gunn Gets Engaged To Actress Jennifer Holland

James Gunn Not Pleased With ‘The Suicide Squad’ HBO Max Release

The Suicide Squad director James Gunn confirms the final cut of the DC movie is complete, eight months before its theatrical and HBO Max release.

AN OLD RADICAL’S OBSERVATION OF CHAZ

Photo of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ)

An observation by Glenn Young who visited Seattle’s Capitol Hill Liberation Zone (CHAZ) on June 13th 2020.

Yesterday I took a chance. I got on my best mask and went to the CHAZ (Capitol Hill Liberation Zone) and tried very hard to keep social distance, while checking out the scene. After all I am in that very high risk group for COVID-19; old, fat, diabetic, and lots of chronic illnesses. The fear of getting the virus had kept me mostly “sheltered” for months, and obviously out of the street demonstrations of the past weeks. Yet, I am, or was, what used to be called in certain demographic classifications a “FRUMPIE” – or “Formerly Radical Upwardly Mobile Professional.” The allure of checking out the newest of these “zones” that I have experienced several times over my formerly radical self was something, even with the pandemic, I just found too hard to resist. I am, after all a “veteran” of the Berkeley events in 1967-68 and the Haight “street scene” in 1968; as well as many, many civil disobedience activities, in many cities, through the late sixties and early seventies. Many of the demonstrations and other efforts I was involved with in those days also created “liberated zones” of some fashion or another. So I was very curious to see how this zone compared to others.

Once I entered CHAZ, I felt that the “vibe” was closest to the Berkeley take-overs, of the 67 and 68 time frame. Except, there seemed far less joy and far less hopefulness in this crowd than back then. It may have been because this gathering was more driven by deaths, in this case I mean individual killings, rather than the abstract deaths of a distant war. Also, CHAZ seemed to lack the added values of sense of “ sex, drugs and rock and roll” of my time in the streets (or I am just too old to recognize what is really there?) Also – the speakers, and those listening, understandably, seemed quite tired after all these weeks of constant demonstrations. There was a sense of fatigue I recognized that was there in DC in 1971, after weeks of civil disobedience against the Vietnam War, and 13,500 arrests. But here, in a “zone” created “in the zone” by some people as a place just for open discussion, I hung out (at a safe distance) with some people trying to see if I could see where they were coming from – and for the most part I heard almost the same conversations I had with people fifty years ago – or perhaps that is what I chose to hear. But among those I got to talk with – most were idealists, thinking they were part of a history that would really change the world. Or people lost, and feeling empty, hoping the takeover would help give their lives meaning. And some were pessimists – thinking that there would be violence soon – either violence to destroy them, and their zone, or violence as they attempted to expand the zone and would be met with opposition. At times, when talking to any of these types, I felt I was talking to myself of fifty years or so ago.

Being there in the zone, mainly I felt – if not an acid flashback, then at least a feeling of “we have all been here before …” By the way, there were also camera crews from the national and local media looking for the chaos that was supposed to exist. They seemed as frustrated as many – but for different reasons. They neither got shots of protesters with guns, or firebombs nor did they get handed flowers, as may have happened fifty years ago. Many of the other people milling about there also seemed disappointed that there was not much really happening. CHAZ felt like a small block party with speeches rather than local rock bands, and there weren’t even arts and crafts to buy. By this time, after about a week of existence, many of those in the Zone, including me to some degree, seemed to be more like tourist rather than anything near terrorist. On a part of the sidewalks there were also an updated version of the “Diggers” from my time – running a “Cop free Co-op” and giving away or trading goods. Long ago, I was on the other side of the counter (doing the giving away); and all I could do was to look on the store in memory – and flashed on a song by Paul Simon with the line “isn’t it strange to be seventy.” The most amusing event of my hour-long visit was seeing a man with an “I can’t breathe” face mask and asking him where he got it; his response with embarrassment in his voice was “I got it on Amazon” — to which I replied that “I wouldn’t tell anyone else that answer.” We both laughed as we went on our way. Maybe we both understood that there are many limitations on how autonomous we could all really be in this capitalistic culture.

I am definitely glad I went to the zone. And, since virtually everyone had masks, and there were means to keep social distance, well, I hope I won’t have medical consequences. The place did allow me to meet my younger self again, at least for a while. So, for me it was almost a Twilight Zone experience, rather than just another liberated zone sojourn. While finding my way back to where I parked my upscale car, what I focused on was on similarity from talking to people in this zone, as I did when I was younger in other zones (and even then a historian); From my point of view, there was one thing that had not changed very much. Among the people I talked to and the speakers I heard (now and in the past), there was a shocking feeling of them having “no sense of history.” Back in my time, most people I’d meet had little understanding of the history of imperialism and the racism of the Western world; or the Paris Commune, the International Brigades nor the long struggle of “labor” for the rights of workers. They also seemed to know little of previous generations’ anti-war, or civil rights, or women liberation or anti-hunger, or unionization efforts.

For most people in the streets then, they just wanted to “Stop the war now” and “Give peace a chance.” Most there seemed to feel they were the first to take such actions. Today there is perhaps a greater understanding of the history of racism and of slavery, but the people there in CHAZ still seemed to be mainly focus on the “killings of the moment.” The idea of “defunding the police” mostly comes without the historical recognition that there may be a need to “smash the state,” and not just one of the “arms the state” used to maintain oppression of people of color, and also poor whites as well. It also seemed that, like then, the people in this zone had little knowledge of those who did such things before. They just want to “stop the killings now” and, redistribute some of the wealth of society. Not bad goals, but seemingly somewhat limited, and without “ideology.” Well, I guess that little time spent there in the “Zone” really impacted me; moved me into thinking like I did fifty years ago. ” You know, “smash the state” is not a phrase I used much anymore (but did an awful lot back then). But, maybe, those in the Zone need to hear it from some old guy like me; to let them know that “we have all been here before” and to learn more about their “radical ancestors” that reach back so far into history; and have created many of these zones before.

So, as far as the zone itself, as itself, I can say “Far out, man” (to be updated, Far out, people.) And, of course, not just “Black Lives Matter” but a slogan from my time “Power to the People.” And as far as my reaction goes, I have to remember that, while history is so important, there is also the fact that all revolutionary movement are organic, often starting with spontaneous events, driven by the needs of the moment. CHAZ seems to be both organic and driven by need. So, I guess this is really just a one note of almost random observation from an aged “comrade;” caught between desire to be there long term, and the realities of aging, and of COVID 19.

About the author: Glenn Young is not just a former radical, but a former US government official, who worked on policies issues concerning the needs of low-literate populations and persons with disabilities. Glenn has been a resident of Seattle, off and on for close to forty years. He has both a bachelor’s (in history) and a Masters’ degree (in Public Administration) from the University of Washington. He is the author of several books including, No Sense of History – a set of political essays on issues or racism and economic injustice, and personal development; Chasing Revolution – a memoir of his time in the radical left of the sixties and seventies; The Winning Words – an evaluation of American presidential elections, based on evaluating the issues behind and the means of the slogans used in these elections; and also The Ba’al Theory of Christianity – an evaluation of Phoenician and Carthaginian religion’s influence of the development of early Christianity.

Frank Sisti Jr. Biography

TV Entertainment

While the internet has made us more connected than ever, there are still many artists who are
hidden underground and have not had the mainstream success one might assume based on the
quality of their work. Enter Frank Sisti Jr., the creative force behind the long-running cult
classic, The Kid America Adventure Hour.

Sisti Jr. has been producing and starring in The Kid America Adventure Hour for years now, but
he came from humble beginnings and has had many avenues of creativity in his career.

The Early Days

Frank Sisti Jr. was born in Queens, and his work reflects his upbringing in New York during the
1990s. His first job came when he was only 11 years old and worked at a comic shop. He
attended New York University for Dramatic Writing but did not finish the program. Instead, he
sold a script titled “Bicycle Ice Cream” to get his foot in the door of show business.

Show Business Beginnings and The Kid America Adventure Hour

Attempting to find his niche in the world, Sisti Jr. began developing an idea that would shape the
rest of his career. The result was The Kid America Adventure Hour, a show he aired on
Manhattan Public Access television.

The Kid America Adventure Hour had an eclectic mix of live-action, puppetry, and animation to
make up the variety show format. Sisti Jr. starred in the show as the host, Frankie, and employed
numerous other New York actors who were young and looking to try something adventurous and
different.

The show was popular with those who watched it, with a mix of bizarre and somewhat avant-
garde comedy mixed with entertaining puppetry for children. The show encapsulated everything
that makes New York unique and different, giving viewers a taste of the authentic city and the
people in it through Sisti Jr.’s lens.

As the show went on, Frank Sisti Jr. realized there might be a market for this work online. While the
internet was still young in 2005, he believed his videos would find a cult following through the
burgeoning internet culture of the time. Video sites for a singular franchise were popular at the
time, with series like Homestar Runner generating plenty of traffic and clicks. Sisti Jr. hoped to
capitalize on the growing popularity of video on the web.

Frank Sisti Jr. teamed up with Alex Orlovsky, a producer for entertainment like Half Nelson and
Blue Valentine, to take The Kid America Adventure Hour and bring it to the internet. They
produced a pilot for a new website and used it to host Kid America Club content for a wider
audience.

While the new website did not bring a newfound wave of mainstream attention, it did solidify the
show and Frank Sisti Jr.’s vision of entertainment into a cult classic. The site developed a loyal
and dedicated fanbase and still exists with videos to this day. The Kid America Club site also
hosts merchandise for avid fans, with t-shirts and stickers based on the costumes and characters
of the show.

Frankie’s Apartment

As Frank Sisti Jr.’s ambitions grew larger, so did his need for more room on the Internet. Later in
his career, he launched the website Frankie’s Apartment to host a new show. Frankie’s
Apartment allowed Sisti Jr. to introduce new puppet characters and create small skits for them.
Some of the popular characters from Frankie’s Apartment include Rubbish the Rat, a wise-
cracking and fast-talking rat who verbally spars with Frankie, and Bill the Snowman, a therapist
and confidant for Frankie. These characters have created a rich and fascinating world that is
popular with those who enjoy things a little weird but still kid-friendly.

Lil’ Hipsters

Another one of Frank Sisti Jr.’s most popular projects was Lil’ Hipsters, a web series he made in
2007 and 2008. Eschewing the live-action elements of Frankie’s Apartment or The Kid America
Club, Lil’ Hipsters was entirely done with puppetry.

Lil’ Hipsters was styled as a sitcom about Krispy, a young kid trying to fit in with the cool kids
in New York City. The series ran for 25 episodes and dealt with topical events of the time. It also
maintained the local roots of the five boroughs of New York that have permeated much of Sisti
Jr.’s work since finding his voice with The Kid America Club Adventure Hour.

Music Career

Aside from acting, Frank Sisti Jr. has also created music. He and his childhood friend Jeff Roberts
formed the band Bandy, a hip-hop group of almost entirely fictional members. You could think
of it as similar to a band like Gorillaz. He also deejays in New York under the pseudonym DJ
Kid America.

Frank Sisti Jr.: Cult Classic Creator

It’s not always possible to break into the mainstream, but it is often more fulfilling just to reach a
passionate and dedicated audience. This is what Frank Sisti Jr. has done his entire career,
creating stories that connect with his hometown and resonate with fans across the globe.

You might be interested in

Remembering Philanthropist Betty Wold Johnson

Betty Wold Johnson

Betty Wold Johnson touched the lives of thousands through her philanthropic work. She supported the arts, medicine, and science, all in the hopes of building a better tomorrow for those less fortunate. Her passing on May 5th, 2020, at the age of 99, reminded many of the numerous contributions she has made to society. Her life was rich in love, and she left behind a legacy of giving back to your community in whatever way possible. She was a long-time contributor to arts, education, and healthcare initiatives in New York and New Jersey, and her contributions will continue to live on to enrich these communities.

Many may recognize Betty as the “First Lady of the Jets”. Her youngest son, Christopher Johnson, is the CEO of the New York Jets, and her eldest son, Woody Johnson, is the United States Ambassador to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Football was an important part of her life from a young age, and that passion for the sport would remain strong throughout her life.  She was actively involved in her children’s lives, even as adults, and offered hands-on support to the Jets team whenever possible. She built close friendships with many of the team players, who she lovingly referred to as her grandchildren, and they often stayed in touch years after the players had moved on from the team. Betty touched the lives of everyone who got to meet her and made it her life’s work to do what she could to help others.

Early Life

Betty Wold was raised in Minnesota. She often recounted stories of her childhood in which she and her father, Karl Christian Wold, would attend the Golden Gophers Games or listen to them on the radio when they were unable to physically attend. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, she enlisted in the Navy’s WAVE program (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Services). Stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas, she helped to train pilots through flight simulators at the Naval Air Station in Rhode Island. She later fell in love and married Robert Wood Johnson III, grandson of one of the founders of the well-known brand Johnson & Johnson. Together, the couple raised five children until Robert died in 1970. In 1978, she married Douglas Bushnell, who died in 2007.

Her Contribution to the Arts

Betty Wold loved the art world and believed that the arts truly free the spirit. Unfortunately, the arts are often the first programs cut from schools facing budget constraints, and she made it a mission to support art accessibility. In 2008, she donated $11 million to New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the single largest individual gift in the center’s history. She also actively supported many different Princeton and New York art and science institutions. Some of these include Princeton Public Library, Nature Conservatory of New Jersey, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and McCarter Theater, to which she donated $500,000 in honor of Emily Mann’s 30-year career as the artistic director. Betty was a firm believer that the arts should be accessible to everyone, regardless of social or economic standing.

Contributions to Healthcare

Betty Wold’s philanthropic endeavors crossed many different fields and services, including health care. She was one of the leading funders of the rebuilding of the Princeton Hospital. She also played a large role in Project Renewal, a nonprofit organization that provides aid to vulnerable New Yorkers, including men and women experiencing homelessness, mental health disorders, and substance abuse. It was important to Betty that everyone had access to affordable health care, and this group offered mobile health services along with helping people secure jobs and housing. Betty was a lead supporter of the annual Jets Kickoff Luncheon, created to benefit the Lupus Research Alliance in their mission to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure lupus.

Contributions to Education

Betty dedicated much of her life to supporting education in as many facets as possible. She was a large supporter of Princeton Day School, where she served as a trustee. In her time at the school, she underwrote several major initiatives to preserve the program, support faculty development, and improve the students’ experience. Many of these initiatives are still implemented to this day, including the STEAM program that offers interdisciplinary courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She even donated her Princeton home to the Hun School to be converted to a headmaster’s house.

Remembering Betty Wold

Betty Wold dedicated her career to philanthropic work in the arts, sciences, and health fields. She was a major contributor to Princeton, supporting her New York and New Jersey community in various ways throughout her life. She provided funding for numerous programs and initiatives to help others in all walks of life. Betty Wold’s work serves as a foundation for continued support and programming throughout the U.S., so her work will continue to benefit countless others far into the future.

Neal ElAttrache Biography

Dr. Neal ElAttrache

The world of professional sports is highly competitive. Athletes have to stay in shape and stay on top of their game to see success for their team. The body of an athlete is put under high demand, and this consistent demand can lead to sports-related injuries. These injuries can affect an athlete’s season, as well as their entire career. When an athlete gets injured and requires surgery, their future success is ultimately in the hands of their surgeon. This means the surgeon has to know what they are doing and provide the best care to ensure the athlete will be able to return to the game they love. One surgeon who has demonstrated his skill and passion for aiding athletes return to full strength is Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

Neal ElAttrache is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in sports medicine at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He has dedicated his career to helping professional athletes recover from significant injuries that could have halted their careers. He is most recognized for the treatment and research of knee, shoulder, and elbow injury and repair.

Rise to Top Sports Physician

Dr. Neal ElAttrache studied at the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1981. His focus was set on entering the medical field, knowing he wanted to specialize in sports medicine. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, he went on to earn his medical doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. He immediately started his internship in general surgery and started his residency in orthopedic surgery. Following this residency, he went on to become a sports medicine fellow at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in 1990. Dr. ElAttrache loved his time at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic so much that he joined the team directly following his fellowship.

Memberships

Neal ElAttrache is dedicated to his craft, both hands-on and through important educational and consulting positions. Dr. ElAttrache is a member of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic Board of Directors. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Foundation. He serves on the Board of Directors and functions as co-chair of Medical Affairs for the Kerlan-Jobe Institute. He also collaborates with Cedars-Sinai whose goal is to lead and support advancements in the fields of sports medicine and orthopedics on a global scale.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache is a former member of the Executive Committee of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Association. He is also the former Program Chairman for the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine.

In addition, he’s been selected for membership in the Alpha Omega Honor Medical Society, NFL Physicians Society, and many other prestigious groups that are leaders in orthopedic surgery.

Role as a Sports Surgeon

Neal ElAttrache has built his career on providing the best in orthopedic care, as well as giving back to his community and supporting future orthopedic surgeons. He takes pride in continuing to provide expert surgical procedures for professional athletes who still have a long career ahead of them. His reputation and track record of successful surgeries has led him to become one of the most highly demanded orthopedic surgeons in Los Angeles. He has held the position of head team physician for the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s also served as an Orthopedic Consultant to the Los Angeles Kings, L.A. Lakers, and the Anaheim Ducks. He also served as senior surgeon for on-site surgical support for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache specializes in knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries. All of these injuries can commonly occur in individuals who participate in contact sports.

As head physician for the Los Angeles Rams, Dr. ElAttrache was proud to be there when the team experienced their big Super Bowl win. He loves the rush of being right there on the sidelines to provide aid at a moment’s notice to the different members of the team. He takes personal pride in ensuring the health and safety of the athletes under his care.

Recognitions

Dr. Neal ElAttrache has a long career in sports medicine with no sign of slowing down any time soon. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and recognitions for his dedicated work in sports medicine. He has been recognized as a top sports medicine specialist by several different organizations. The Los Angeles Daily News included Dr. ElAttrache as a “Top 50 Most Powerful in Los Angeles Sports.” USA Today included him in their list of “The 100 Most Powerful People in MLB.” He was selected by peer review for “Best Doctors in America,” and Castle Connolly included him in their list of “America’s Top Doctors.” He’s also been labeled “Super Doctor” by Super Doctors of Southern California.

Baseball Prospectus, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated Online all recognized him as “Top 10 Sports Medicine Doctors in America.” His list of recognitions goes on and on. What all his recognitions share in common is that they highlight his commitment to orthopedics and sports medicine. His commitment to athlete success continues to build his career and his recognition not only in Los Angeles, but throughout the entire U.S.

He was installed as the 47h president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) on Saturday, July 7th, 2018.

Work Outside of Surgery

Dr. ElAttrache is truly committed and passionate about sports medicine. When he isn’t operating, he is serving his community through different memberships and committees. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise with others. He has authored over 40 textbook chapters and 100 research journal articles. He’s also participated in 10 orthopedic instructional videos. He has also given over 317 lectures at national and international orthopedic surgery conferences. With over 37 years of experience, he enjoys sharing his experiences with others in the field.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache Today

Neal ElAttrache continues to focus on providing quality medical treatment to the athletes of the L.A. Rams team. He knows how detrimental an injury can be, and so he provides the expert care these athletes need to continue to play at their best. According to the ChicagoTribune.com, Dr. ElAttrache is married to Tricia as well as the brother-in-law to Sylvester Stallone. His long career is full of recognition for his commitment to advancing sports medicine and orthopedic medicine. He continues to support the state-of-the-art work performed at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic.

Photo credit: “Twilight at Dodger Stadium” by LifeSupercharger is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Joshua Burgin Biography

Joshua Burgin

The technological industry continues to grow and adapt to global needs. The individuals behind the scenes have helped shape the way businesses and their customers connect. Joshua Burgin has played a significant role in building and shaping the way technology works for businesses. He has helped develop, implement, and evolve different software and technologies for numerous leading businesses in a variety of industries. He is a well-established leader and innovator in his field. He also lives in the local Seattle area.

Burgin developed his passion for technology early in life. He would start his impressive journey at Amazon, being one of their first 100 employees. He didn’t know then the vital role he would continue to play today in the tech industry. He has a clear track record of building profitable businesses from the ground up, as well as helping established businesses expand their reach within the digital world. He has a sincere passion for growing diverse and inclusive organizations that are committed to producing technological products and advancements that improve the lives of people around the globe.

Career History

Throughout his professional career, Burgin has explored positions of leadership and innovation. He is passionate about not only demonstrating the skills required to be a leader, but he is also committed to providing support for future innovators and leaders. He truly believes in the ability of technology to expand and improve the world. He has proven himself to be a valuable asset to a number of industry-leading businesses. He provides special skill sets that involve business development, product strategy, financial management, cloud computing, customer acquisition, and so much more.

As of January 2024, Joshua Burgin is the Chief Product Officer at Upwind Security. Previously, he held the title of Vice President of Product, Engineering, and Strategy at VMware. VMware is a multi-billion-dollar cloud software business. In his current position, he was responsible for providing leadership in the areas of product, strategy, and customer experience. His years of experience in the field make him an ideal leader for company-wide initiatives. His position allows him to work with senior leadership, as well as teams of highly-skilled employees in areas of onboarding, software engineering, security, and lifecycle management.

Before joining Upwind Security and VMware, Burgin wore many hats within the Amazon corporation. His most recent role was that of General Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS). He was an essential part of helping AWS launch outposts in over 65 countries, vastly expanding Amazon’s digital reach for customers and businesses around the globe. Before taking on this impressive leadership role, he developed his skill and experience under an Amazon Senior Executive, Charlie Bell. Burgin worked as Bell’s Chief of Staff and Technical Advisor. In this role, he was able to learn directly from an experienced individual in tech. In his position, Burgin would hone the skills to track industry trends, develop adaptive strategies, and develop solutions presented by business and technological challenges. You can follow Joshua Burgin on SubStack.

His speaking and interviews are available on his YouTube Channel.

From 2014-2019, Burgin was a Director and General Manager in Compute Services. During this time, he sponsored three successful acquisitions. This included ClusterK, Thinkbox, and Nimble Software. He also owned several lines of business, such as Auto Scaling, EC3 Spot, and Reserved Instances/Savings Plans.

Burgin has worked for various start-up companies, playing a vital role in helping these companies not only get off the ground but become leaders in their respective industries. One example is his time at Zynga. He was crucial to their in-game advertising platform. Today, this company continues to thrive within the gaming industry.

In 1997, Burgin joined a small team of like-minded individuals who wanted to completely revolutionize the shopping experience. He earned the title of Senior Software Engineer for Amazon. He designed and developed content and fleet management software for their retail website. He also automated failover processes for customer-facing databases. This improved availability and decreased failure response time.

Publications

Joshua Burgin possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience that is valuable to others. He has led small teams of skilled individuals to teams consisting of numerous departments and hundreds of employees. His various leadership roles, as well as his knowledge of industry trends and business operations, have inspired numerous publications. Some of his most noted publications include:

  • Encouraging Calculated Risk Taking- this article explores how an organization or company builds by taking calculated risks, such as big bets and outside-the-box thinking. He informs his reader that this is done by creating a culture of psychological safety. This is a shared belief that the team is safe and that employees can be their true selves without fear of negative consequences.
  • Creating a Culture of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Tech- Designed as a guide for leaders and executives, this article provides practical advice to senior members of any business team and provides an atmosphere that supports diversity and inclusion.
  • How to Be a Great Leader (Career Advice for Managers)- Due to his experience and passion for his work, Burgin has often filled roles of leadership, giving him a unique insight into how to successfully lead, educate, and inspire. This publication provides guidance for those looking to lead in the tech industry.

Burgin has provided several interviews and attended events where he was a requested keynote speaker. Within his public speaking engagements, he provides insights into technology, innovation, and leadership. He helps to inspire the future leaders of the tech industry and beyond.

Advisory Board Member ADL (Seattle)

The mission of the ADL organization is particularly critical at present due to the increasing instances of antisemitism. In a recent interview with Joshua Burgin, he discussed why he supports the ADL in their fight against antisemitism. He shared the story in a tweet.

Patents

As a leader, Joshua Burgin has helped invent, develop, and implement various technological products, services, and systems. He is named inventor on more than 20 patents. These patents, largely in line with the demands of business in technology, demonstrate his passion and commitment to this industry. His patents include:

  • Coordinating predictive autoscaling of virtualized resource groups
  • Specialized cloud provider regions for availability-sensitive workloads
  • Enabling conditional computing resource terminations based on forecasted capacity availability.

A Leader and Innovator

Joshua Burgin is a leader in the tech world. He has worked with small start-up companies as well as global giants. He continues to commit his work towards developing a business workplace that is diverse, inclusive, and leads the digital market. His unique skillset makes him an asset to any business seeking to grow, acquire customers, and provide state-of-the-art technological tools and services.

The Emerald City Journal interviewed Joshua about Israel’s Tech Economy.

Experience History (Seattle, Washington)

  • Upwind Security – Chief Product Officer (January 2024 – Present) [Profile]
  • VMware – Vice President of Product, Engineering & Strategy (January 2022 – January 2024) [Profile]
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) – General Manager, AWS Outposts
  • Zynga – Senior Director, Technology Platform & Services
  • RPI Print – Senior Manager, Product Management
  • QL2 Software – Manager, Product & Program Management
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center – Senior Manager, Projects & Planning
  • Pure Stuff – Senior Technical Program Manager
  • Amazon – Senior Software Engineer

Education

  • Haverford College – Bachelor’s Degree, Philosophy

Volunteering

  • Anti-Defamation League – Advisory Board Member (January 2019 – Present)
  • Union for Reform Judaism – Advisory Board Member – Camp Kalsman (July 2022 – Present)

Follow on Twitter or Medium

Craig Sweeny Biography

Craig Sweeny

For the last two decades, Craig Sweeny, an American screenwriter and television producer, has been making a name for himself. He is mainly known for his role in creating science fiction television shows, but that’s only the beginning. His work in television and film has transcended genre. Craig Sweeny is known for his artistic eye and attention to detail – the kind of details discerning viewers love but with enough action to keep everyone interested.

Craig Sweeny and His Burgeoning Career

Like most people in the industry, Craig Sweeny’s opportunity was immediately apparent. Though before his work in the industry began, Sweeny had a variety of jobs; once he began writing, he knew he had found his calling. He began his career in movies and film at CBS Studios. He worked as a staff writer for the successful television drama, The 4400. However, he wrote for many other projects that CBS had in production and became an invaluable member of the team. His work encompassed more than pen and paper. Craig Sweeny’s talents include writing, creating, and executive producing. Many notice his quiet stamp on a plethora of projects.

Craig Sweeny’s Work at CBS

Craig Sweeny’s time at CBS has been extremely productive, and he has been at the helm or part of the creative team of many of the company’s most successful shows. Here are a few of those:

The 4400 (2004). Playing with both personal drama and science fiction, this show is about a group of people who went missing only to return later with supernatural powers and be hunted down by a government agency. Beautifully filmed, The 4400 won an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie in 2005 and has been nominated for many more awards besides that.

Medium (2005). Being a mom is its own job, but Allison DuBois also works as a consultant for a law firm. She also just happens to be a medium who receives visions of crimes while she sleeps. She uses her supernatural talent to help solve crimes but has to manage her own personal life at the same time. This interesting crime drama keeps viewers on the edge of their seat to find out “who done it?”

Limitless (2015). Based on the extremely successful film starring Bradley Cooper (who also had a cameo in the TV show), this series ran for one season. It tells the story of Brain Finch, who discovers a drug that gives him increased brain power and intellectual gifts. He uses these new-found gifts to work with the FBI to help solve complex cases.

Craig Sweeny discussing Limitless at WonderCon in 2016

Star Trek Discovery (2017). This series is the seventh in the Star Trek franchise. It follows the crew of the starship Discovery from a decade before the Original Series traveling through the future. Set a decade before Captain Kirk voyaged on the Starship Enterprise, this show truly goes where no man (or showrunner) has gone before.

Other television shows that he has been a part of include: The Code, Elementary, Common Law, Dr. Vegas, Playmakers, and Dark Angel.

Craig Sweeny Creates His Own Production Company, Action This Day!

Though a loss for CBS, Craig Sweeny ventured out to make his own way and started his own production company, Action This Day! according to Wikipedia. When discussing the shows he works on, he said he likes the procedural model of the shows. From his perspective, that type of framework allows him to develop the characters organically and gradually. The characters are more real because you are not preparing for the next big thing to happen, and you have a lot of episodes to create the story. In some ways, he is turning what had belonged to movies into TV-watching by creating prestige TV shows.

When asked about how to make a hit television show, he admits that it’s somewhat of a mystery. He does not have a guaranteed way to make a hit, but he does know what keeps him entertained and tries to incorporate that into his work. He initially wants to feel an internal spark that draws him into any project. He says that he relies on other people to tell him what a hit is. He tries not to get too deep into the analytics because that takes away from the creating aspect of what he does. His first job is as a creator.

How Craig Sweeny Casts for His Production Company

Finding the right actors for any given show is its own unique process. When talking about how the casting for roles goes, he states that it feels more like a mating ritual than a job interview. Almost like a blind date, he meets them for coffee and small talk and then digs deeper from there. Getting to know the actor helps him fill out the story and develop its future. He explains that he sometimes sits alone mulling ideas for his shows, and sometimes he sits in a group to discuss and throw thoughts around.

In 2021, Sweeny signed a three-year deal with CBS Studios. This deal will keep him working on existing projects for CBS while developing new ones for Action This Day!  

When he is not working, Craig Sweeny enjoys staying in shape and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, he has over 10 years of experience. When asked about his training, Sweeny responded, “It’s a rewarding pastime that has benefited me immeasurably and I’d recommend it to just about anyone.”

Craig Sweeny Jiu-Jitsu Competition at Southbay Open

Photo: “Craig Sweeny” by Gage Skidmore (Creative Commons)

Photo: Southbay Open by YouTube.

1 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 37
Go to Top