One reason I don't take THE COMMITTEE FOR THE EXTERMINATION OF LOWER CASE LETTERS very seriously is that they're rather… casual about doing their homework.
I received their most recent email blast today, and got all excited about having this blog (or, as they put it, THE AFM OBSERVER) mentioned in their title line. Imagine my excitement as I scrolled down as fast as my mouse would take me to the relevant part of the email. Was I a tool of the RMA? Fair and balanced? Or something even worse?
Apparently I was actually another blog:
V. HEARD OF THE AFM OBSERVER?
Almost no one has. It was started a few months ago by a particularly prominent RMA member. Most of the entries are by someone called RECORDING MUSICIAN. The site acts as a projectile spaghetti machine. In other words, the writer throws everything against the wall, however absurd, to see what sticks.
A number of the posts tell you to follow links to Variety articles using info that has been leaked to "willing writers" for publication. It's like sending something to a reporter then using the article you leaked as proof of what you say. An old ploy that is easily spotted.
Recently, RECORDING MUSICIAN posted a comment so absurd and dishonest that AFM President Tom Lee felt he needed to respond.
The blog THE COMMITTEE seems to have in mind is here. Darn.
Just for the record, though - this blog gets about 200 hits per day. Evidently someone's heard of it.
Yes, but did you read the part in the newsletter where Local 47 was so concerned that another Local actually referenced the good work of the COMMITTEE that the Local 47 board called up the offending Local and berated them for even mentioning the COMMITTEE in their official minutes.
Sure, point out a minor error here or there, but the COMMITTEE has made huge progress in exposing a ton of misdeeds at the RMA and Local 47. To start with, they broke the story that the President of the RMA-LA was doing buyout work over in London on "The Water Horse" - sort of pulls the rug out from under all the RMA "don't do buyout work" propaganda. This courageous group of people actually has the guts to say what everyone is talking about, and the many positive comments they publish with each newsletter prove they have an audience who appreciates their work.
And what's with the Karl Rovian reference? The protector of the wealthy and rich is clearly the RMA here - the COMMITTEE is working hard to help get MORE recording work for players so that work might get spread around a bit instead of being concentrated in the hands of the chosen few. More work projects other than A-list studio films means lots more AFM recording sessions that are presently being done in Seattle, Europe, etc.
Watchdog groups like the COMMITTEE are a necessary check and balance, especially considering the recent history of Local 47 and its behavior towards the AFM, not to mention the multiple lawsuits, etc Local 47 is currently involved with.
Posted by: | December 02, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Why bother with facts when Karl Rovian tactics will do?
Posted by: michael | November 28, 2008 at 12:09 PM