For those of us living under a rock, it was announced this week that Hostess, the company that makes Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Wonder Bread, would be going out of business. This may have come as an absolute shock to some, but for me, a major league junk food lover, I felt indifferent.
Don't get me wrong, I do like some of the snacks that Hostess produced, but it has been a long time since I really consumed them on a regular basis, if I really did that at all. Nowadays, I like granola bars (which I don't think really qualifies as junk food), Butter Crunch cookies, and Caramel Creams, among other things. I just have not given much thought to buying anything Hostess makes.
I do feel bad for those who are going to lose their jobs, some of which are based here in Bridgeport, Connecticut, according to News 12 Connecticut. Even one union head that the station interviewed said that he would have a hard time finding new jobs for his members because no company is hiring. And this could not happen at a worse time...the holiday season is upon us; what will these folks do?
Snack food lovers all over the world can hope that other companies buy the rights to make the now-defunct Hostess' famed products, but personally, I don't know if it's going to happen.
I sympathize with those who like Hostess' stuff. I really do. It's not the end of the world, however.
Let me know what you think of this in the comments section below, and perhaps tell me what your favorite Hostess snack was as well.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
TATN with William C. Jackson - "Tobacco Burn" - November 13, 2012
For the last few days, I have been in South Windsor, Connecticut, working on a short film called "Tobacco Burn," which is a product of the brain trust of Ajani Jackson (no relation) and Justin Liberman, a native of South Windsor (Justin also serves as director on this film).
Now, I don't wish to give too much away about this film, out of respect for the aforementioned brain trust, but it is set in 1830, on a plantation. That's all I am going to say for now.
I will say that I am an "extra" in this film, but, surprisingly, I don't feel like one. Justin Liberman, the director, and Jennifer (I don't know her last name), one of the producers, have given me so much time on camera. it is as if I have become one of the major players in this film.
It also doesn't hurt that I have people on and off camera that have been EXTREMELY supportive of my role in the film; I have bonded very well with the cast, which includes an actor from HBO's "Boardwalk Empire." Not only that, the behind the scenes personnel are AWESOME, to say the least. I would especially like to "give a shout out" to Justin, one of my professors at Sacred Heart University. He called me while I was at the Bridgeport Metro-North station waiting to board a train to see my family in New York, to give me this wonderful opportunity. Also, I want to thank people like Sophie Finkelstein for believing in me. Also very supportive of my role in this film are Julien du Plessis, Zach Frank, and Ryan Arroyo, who I have known since we took classes together at Sacred Heart University.
The people of South Windsor are "pumped up" about this film. People have been stopping by the set to watch the action, and to take photos of the cast. In fact, so nice are the residents of this quiet town, some personnel, myself included, have been allowed to stay in their homes while working on the film (Another "shout out" to Carolyn and her family for allowing Zach, Ryan, Jake Horgan and I to stay in their home these last few days).
The shooting of this film even made the local newspaper, the Journal Inquirer, which is why I am talking about it here. And why would it not be news? Justin Liberman, again a son of South Windsor, goes out into the world and becomes a huge filmmaker and director, and returns to his roots to work on a film. This is a feel-good story, ladies and gentlemen. It's only a shame that this didn't make the front page of the paper, but such is a commentary for another day.
I will conclude this commentary by, again, thanking Justin Liberman for affording me the chance to work on "Tobacco Burn," as well as the rest of cast and crew for believing in me. Now, ladies, and gentlemen, it's time to get to work.
Now, I don't wish to give too much away about this film, out of respect for the aforementioned brain trust, but it is set in 1830, on a plantation. That's all I am going to say for now.
I will say that I am an "extra" in this film, but, surprisingly, I don't feel like one. Justin Liberman, the director, and Jennifer (I don't know her last name), one of the producers, have given me so much time on camera. it is as if I have become one of the major players in this film.
It also doesn't hurt that I have people on and off camera that have been EXTREMELY supportive of my role in the film; I have bonded very well with the cast, which includes an actor from HBO's "Boardwalk Empire." Not only that, the behind the scenes personnel are AWESOME, to say the least. I would especially like to "give a shout out" to Justin, one of my professors at Sacred Heart University. He called me while I was at the Bridgeport Metro-North station waiting to board a train to see my family in New York, to give me this wonderful opportunity. Also, I want to thank people like Sophie Finkelstein for believing in me. Also very supportive of my role in this film are Julien du Plessis, Zach Frank, and Ryan Arroyo, who I have known since we took classes together at Sacred Heart University.
The people of South Windsor are "pumped up" about this film. People have been stopping by the set to watch the action, and to take photos of the cast. In fact, so nice are the residents of this quiet town, some personnel, myself included, have been allowed to stay in their homes while working on the film (Another "shout out" to Carolyn and her family for allowing Zach, Ryan, Jake Horgan and I to stay in their home these last few days).
The shooting of this film even made the local newspaper, the Journal Inquirer, which is why I am talking about it here. And why would it not be news? Justin Liberman, again a son of South Windsor, goes out into the world and becomes a huge filmmaker and director, and returns to his roots to work on a film. This is a feel-good story, ladies and gentlemen. It's only a shame that this didn't make the front page of the paper, but such is a commentary for another day.
I will conclude this commentary by, again, thanking Justin Liberman for affording me the chance to work on "Tobacco Burn," as well as the rest of cast and crew for believing in me. Now, ladies, and gentlemen, it's time to get to work.
Friday, November 9, 2012
TATN with William C. Jackson - November 9, 2012
Hello, everyone in the blogosphere... My name is William C. Jackson, and this is the first of what I hope will be many commentaries from my brand new blog, called "Talking About The News." I decided to start a blog because I watch a whole lot of television news (You know what that's like, right?). And because I watch a whole lot of television news, I feel like I am informed enough to express opinions on any given story that pops up. It doesn't hurt that I also have news apps on my Blackberry, so I can comment quickly on breaking news as well.
Commenting on stories that make the news is not foreign to me. As an undergrad at Hunter College in New York City, I was required to keep a journal for a writing class I took. I did not know what to write about, and I certainly was not about to discuss my emotions, so I came up with a brilliant idea...Watch the local and national television news, and then write my opinion on any given stories that catch my eye. Of course, this was not limited to political news. I also wrote opinion on crime stories and sometimes entertainment stories as well. My professor required that at least two entries per week be written in the journal. I could imagine her surprise that I was pumping out four or five entries per week based upon stuff that I saw on the news, and a lot was happening in the fall of 2005.
Seven years later, this is the objective of "Talking About The News." I want to write timely commentary on the things I see in the news, whether it be local, national, or global; crime, politics, or show business. I want everyone who reads my commentaries to take something from them, hopefully, that I brought a fresh set of ideas to the table, and not recycled old ones. I want to be known not only as a good writer, but one who has a firm grasp of the subjects that I will discuss.
I am not doing this for profit; this is something that I did when I was in college the first time (I am now a graduate student at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut), which I absolutely loved doing. Not only did I learn how to write better, I feel that I learned how to communicate more effectively, at least on paper. I think my professor would be proud that I am taking this idea I had from the fall of 2005 and starting a commentary blog based upon it.
I also want to be a journalist, mainly on television, and I strongly believe that "Talking About The News" will help me find a job within the media industry. If I could prove my worth to YOU, my readers, I believe that will be the case with a company like NBC or CNN.
I want to remind you that this is the first post on this blog. Now that I have introduced myself to you (somewhat), the real work begins. I will watch the local news on (mostly) every channel I can get, waiting for a story that grabs my attention. Once that happens, watch out--literally! I will be on here, letting you know what I think of it. Some posts will be longer than others, obviously. Finally, don't be surprised if I am on here almost every day...As I said before, at times in my writing class, I was writing almost every day of the week.
I will stop here. I will have to go out and promote "Talking About The News," which I believe will be the world's next great opinion blog! If you are reading this, and you like what you see, share it with your family, friends, even your pets. I'll be here again soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if "soon" was as early as tonight. Until then....
UPDATE...I had to change the name of my blog to "Talking About The News." Apparently, "Jackson's Junction" is the name of a rock band. And I'm not trying to get sued, so there you go.
Commenting on stories that make the news is not foreign to me. As an undergrad at Hunter College in New York City, I was required to keep a journal for a writing class I took. I did not know what to write about, and I certainly was not about to discuss my emotions, so I came up with a brilliant idea...Watch the local and national television news, and then write my opinion on any given stories that catch my eye. Of course, this was not limited to political news. I also wrote opinion on crime stories and sometimes entertainment stories as well. My professor required that at least two entries per week be written in the journal. I could imagine her surprise that I was pumping out four or five entries per week based upon stuff that I saw on the news, and a lot was happening in the fall of 2005.
Seven years later, this is the objective of "Talking About The News." I want to write timely commentary on the things I see in the news, whether it be local, national, or global; crime, politics, or show business. I want everyone who reads my commentaries to take something from them, hopefully, that I brought a fresh set of ideas to the table, and not recycled old ones. I want to be known not only as a good writer, but one who has a firm grasp of the subjects that I will discuss.
I am not doing this for profit; this is something that I did when I was in college the first time (I am now a graduate student at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut), which I absolutely loved doing. Not only did I learn how to write better, I feel that I learned how to communicate more effectively, at least on paper. I think my professor would be proud that I am taking this idea I had from the fall of 2005 and starting a commentary blog based upon it.
I also want to be a journalist, mainly on television, and I strongly believe that "Talking About The News" will help me find a job within the media industry. If I could prove my worth to YOU, my readers, I believe that will be the case with a company like NBC or CNN.
I want to remind you that this is the first post on this blog. Now that I have introduced myself to you (somewhat), the real work begins. I will watch the local news on (mostly) every channel I can get, waiting for a story that grabs my attention. Once that happens, watch out--literally! I will be on here, letting you know what I think of it. Some posts will be longer than others, obviously. Finally, don't be surprised if I am on here almost every day...As I said before, at times in my writing class, I was writing almost every day of the week.
I will stop here. I will have to go out and promote "Talking About The News," which I believe will be the world's next great opinion blog! If you are reading this, and you like what you see, share it with your family, friends, even your pets. I'll be here again soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if "soon" was as early as tonight. Until then....
UPDATE...I had to change the name of my blog to "Talking About The News." Apparently, "Jackson's Junction" is the name of a rock band. And I'm not trying to get sued, so there you go.
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