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Democrats obviously didn’t read this bill very well.

Do you think the U.S. govt. is sending any more tax payer dollars overseas to "stimulate" foreign economies in the middle of a U.S. recession?? (They didn’t know about this, so who knows what else they missed in the bill they didn’t read)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33847.html#ixzz0h8fPQamN

Senate Democrats are furious that the vast majority of grants from the clean-energy program from last year’s stimulus have been awarded to foreign companies.

Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) announced Wednesday a new initiative to require the "Buy America" provision of the stimulus to all programs, not just the government ones. A study done by the Investigating Reporting Workshop found that 79 percent of the $2 billion in clean-energy grants allocated since Sept. 1, 2009 has gone to foreign wind companies.

"We are demanding the Obama administration suspend this program immediately… [and] indefinitely," Schumer said. "We are sending a letter to Secretary Geithner asking him to halt all payouts for this program until we in Congress can go back and fix this law."

what did they expect

Every “green job” created with government money in Spain over the last eight years came at the cost of 2.2 regular jobs, and only one in 10 of the newly created green jobs became a permanent job, says a new study released this month. The study draws parallels with the green jobs programs of the Obama administration.

President Obama, in fact, has used Spain’s green initiative as a blueprint for how the United States should use federal funds to stimulate the economy. Obama’s economic stimulus package,which Congress passed in February, allocates billions of dollars to the green jobs industry.

But the author of the study, Dr. Gabriel Calzada, an economics professor at Juan Carlos University in Madrid, said the United States should expect results similar to those in Spain:

"Spain’s experience (cited by President Obama as a model) reveals with high confidence, by two different methods, that the U.S. should expect a loss of at least 2.2 jobs on average, or about 9 jobs lost for every 4 created, to which we have to add those jobs that non-subsidized investments with the same resources would have created,” wrote Calzada in his report: Study of the Effects on Employment of Public Aid to Renewable Energy Sources.

Help a newbie out!

Let me start off by saying that I have ZERO background in programming.

I understand markup langauges (HTML, XHTML, CSS) and I know a bit of JavaScript.

I know the directly I would like to take is to learn and utilize .Net technologies for web application development. My question is… where do I start?

While I know schooling is the most formal route to take (and I do intend on eventually completing a MS in Computer Science) I will have to stick with individual learning / workshops or individual classes for the time due to financial restraints.

I don’t want to learn just the languages. I know that if I learn only the languages, I won’t fully understand the development aspect. Sure, I’ll know what elements, functions and variables are and how to manipulate them effectively (I guess), but I won’t know the theory of programming.

I liken it to music somewhat. I can learn to play the guitar and piano well, but just because I can read sheet music and translate it into music does not mean that I understand music theory or know how to write decent songs from scratch.

SO… MY QUESTION IS:

What are some great resources available for those of us teaching ourselves programming techniques/languages and not attending formal schooling?

Is there a MUST HAVE book on programming algorithms that would provide decent insight and get me started on the right track?

Any other advice from experienced programmers that would be useful?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!
Excuse any spelling errors. I am an idiot and did not proofread prior to posting.

I’ll suggest you a great online resource where you can start learning programming.

http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy/html/chap01.html

I have a single aerial photograph of Anniston Army Depot and am hoping to construct a model of the railroad operations on this base. I was wondering if any of you had better photographs of the base rail facilities and/or would be able to provide me with more details from the aerial photo.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Anniston+Army+Depot&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&cid=0,0,13256188318000757384&ei=YvCOSdXiL5KasAPZx-yOCQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image

I enjoy constructing model trains and have recently begun considering constructing, from scratch, a train of DODX (department of defense railroad) flatcars.

http://www.trainweb.org/marcrailfan/dodxflat2.html

These railcars are apparently used to transport military equipment from around the country to Anniston Army Depot in Georgia where the equipment undergoes major repairs and upgrades.

Once I have a decent number of these railcars, I was hoping to construct a scaled down version of Anniston Army Depot (I’ll likely build a layout that is only large enough to accommodate a portion of the 7 sidings and leave a switch leading to the others in case I ever want to build them) so that I could use the cars to make deliveries to the base.

Furthermore, once the base is complete, I’d hope to construct a DODX 25 ton or 44 ton switcher to handle the switching within the base.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1037617

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=884628

Unfortunately, I only have one picture of the base itself and it’s an aerial photo. Would any of you be able to help me identify more details from the aerial photograph or actually have some ground level photographs of the bases rail facilities???

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Anniston+Army+Depot&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&cid=0,0,13256188318000757384&ei=YvCOSdXiL5KasAPZx-yOCQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image

Specifically, what are the dimensions of the workshops that line the tracks? What would these buildings look like at ground level?

Is there any kind of gate or security separating the base siding from the railroad mainline? If there is, what would it look like?

Finally, what would the two large buildings on the south side of Roosevelt drive look like-what are there dimensions???

Any other information you could give me on this railroad operation would be greatly appreciated.

Well…can’t help you with the photo, but I need to correct you. Anniston Army Depot is in Alabama; not Georgia. That could be why you can’t find anything in army historical archive photos.

I asked this elsewhere, years ago – here’s the google done then, to get you thinking maybe becoming a great writer, to warm up this cold, wet, windy winter:-

Search Results

1 – 10 of about 3,640,000 for

best writers of all genres –

WEB RESULTS

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is on helping new & beginning writers of all genres be they horror or sci-fi, …

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Yahoo Christian writers course

Must go!

Ian
OH: my old PC died 8 days ago

& the ‘best …. book – & why?’ asked then are now invoting – as are my several, ‘best …. movie – & why?

Back to link

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Best sci-fi book – & why?
1 In Books & Authors – Asked by rezponday6 – 6 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best historical period costume book – & why?
In Books & Authors – Asked by rezponday6 – 2 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best courtroom drama book – & why?
In Books & Authors – Asked by rezponday6 – 4 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best musical movie – & why?
1 In Movies – Asked by rezponday6 – 18 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best courtroom drama movie – & why?
In Movies – Asked by rezponday6 – 11 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best historical period costume movie – & why?
In Movies – Asked by rezponday6 – 5 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best sci-fi movie – & why?
In Movies – Asked by rezponday6 – 15 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best thriller movie – & why?
In Movies – Asked by rezponday6 – 3 answers – 1 week ago – In Voting

Best romcom movie – & why?
In Movies – Asked by rezponday6 – 2 answers – 1 week ago
Now for new ones @ book genres not asked before:-

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090209072124AA8mS9e
Best musical book – & why?
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090209072337AAiBdZF
Best courtroom drama book – & why?
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090209072522AAvKXvB
Best historical period costume book – & why?
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090209072704AAVxcJl
Best thriller book – & why?
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090209072854AAXSJKy
Best sci-fi book – & why?
Hi dude

I must link creative writers sections here

& google creative writers online competition

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WOW

So many linked here, I just gotta open some up, to get ya making the most of winter, like so many writers do, yes?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4RNWN_enGB313GB313&q=creative+writers+online+forum+sections+
http://www.Writing.Com – Writers, Writing, Poetry, Creative Writing, Fiction …

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Books, CNotes, Campfires, Crosswords, Documents, Folders, Forums, Groups …

other writers or readers, you’ll be amazed at the online creative writing …

http://www.writing.com/ – 36k

Poets & Writers |

From Inspiration to Publication

Online Only, posted 2.06.09. Karin Taylor, who served for over twenty years as executive director of the …

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Make your connections in the Speakeasy Message Forum and join …

http://www.pw.org/ – 30k

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DVD and audio CDs will provide you with excerpts from films, stage and radio plays as well as interviews with writers.

Online tutor-group forums enable …

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01A363 – 26k
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A writing forum, dedicated to creative writing, where writers can post short stories and …

Basic resources are allowed in this forum. Sweet little online. …

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Writer’s Digest actually offers a forum section titled “Writer’s Block …

Creative Writing Ideas – Get Past Writer’s Block in print or online must be …

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The iEARN online Forum provides a space for ongoing interactions among course facilitators and participants during the course. …

The Week 1 orientation includes the following sections: …

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SORRY: last link cut:-

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Free online course by one of the world’s finest Christian teachers.

Tip: Save time by hitting the return key instead of clicking on "search"

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Barnes & Noble – offering free online writing courses; Christian Writers Guild – offers courses via email for youth, adults, also contests …

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OK .. the prize incentives:-

1 – 10 of about 8,310,000 for

creative writers online competition

Search Results

Creative writing community publishing and paying for short stories …

They also list current creative writing competitions including poetry contests, …

All have a web presence and most have on-line writers guidelines. …

http://www.writelink.co.uk/ – 34k

Writing Competitions Visit

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Writers Online Writers Online is ongoing way of encouraging children to practise their creative writing skills …

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/whatson/writingcomps.html – 27k

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Creative writing ideas and advice. Free lists of writing competitions – poetry / short …

One of the best if not the best online course I’ve come across. …

http://www.abcwritersnetwork.co.uk/ – 19k
I’ve had @ 8 emails offering expiry extend

& will do so in each, to take us thru the weekend, OK?

well my favorite author is Michelle Patricia Noble she writes horro anthologies i guess there called. she has some of the best vampire stories out there. all her stories are short stories so you dont get bored. i love her

http://www.surfthechannel.com/episode/157/944219.html

Its one tree hill, spisode 19, where mouth and skills go on a roadtrip, luke taked nathan and jamie to the workshop.
but firs off, on surfthechannel, its bad qulity, and then everything that i just describied, that is supposed to be a full episode, is in the recap !
this makes no sense, because episode 20 season 6 hasnt even aired yet !!!!!!!!!

or is this just my mistake ??
please help,
and give a WORKING link to episode 19.
thhhhaaaannnkkks !
i live in canada…. so cw wouldnt work..

know any channels that air one tree hill in canada ?

projectfreetv.com they always add episodes of oth every week

Hello! This is not a question, but rather a resource for all aspiring actors and actresses out there. Instead of i guess wasting your points asking how to become an actress, I will tell you how to become as successful as possible. Before I get started, let me give you a little background first. My name is Anna, and I have been in the acting business since I was 6 years old, and modeling since I was 4. I am now 13 years old, so that makes almost 9 years in the business. I do have experience, as I am not telling you my knowledge coming from someone who has zero experience.

Step One:
Get into some acting classes. Without these, you will get nowhere. It doesn’t matter if you have natural talent or think you are they best, you must take these. It is a known fact that without training, casting directors wont even consider you for roles. For starters, I would suggest an improvisation class. If you are looking into getting into film or television acting, I would suggest taking a film or television acting workshop. Classes should not cost more that a few hundred dollars, if that. Many classes are offered at local theater companies. With some research on the internet and in the phone book, finding a class perfect for you will be easy.

Step 2
So great! You are now enrolled in an acting class. You are now ready for the next step: gaining experience. Audition for local theater productions, school plays, church plays, and independent films. As a beginner actor, you will not automatically start out by doing films and television shows. You must work your way up. Gaining enough training should take about a year. It would be a plus if you got some leads or main roles. To find auditions, call your local theater company, or contact your local community college, which may be holding auditions for student films, which look great on any resume. For all people who want to become an actor on the Disney Channel: please do not send your audition tapes to Disney. Unless you have an agent with an impressive resume, they will not even consider you. You will be just wasting your time. Also, "casting call" websites are not a good place to start. Many of those sites usually are scams, or are looking for experienced actors.

STEP 3
Great! So you’ve been taking acting classes and have some experience in acting. Now you have some background and are not going into this clueless. The next step is to get 8×10 color headshots of yourself. If you are serious about acting, you should get AT LEAST 300 of these prints, which will be used for auditions, casting calls, etc. Also, you must create a resume, which is a written copy of all previous acting training and experience, as well as your statistics and special skills. You can go to http://www.bestsampleresume.com/acting-resumes.html to find the best format for you. Paste your resume to the back of your headshot. You are now ready for the next step, and perhaps the most challenging and exciting step… getting an agent.

STEP 4
So you have created a resume and have your headshots done. It is now time to get an agent. Agents help find auditions and casting calls for you to go on, and is another essential part of showbiz. The do not cost a thing! Never pay an agent. They only take around 15% of the money you earn when you book a job. Start out by finding a local agent. Don’t get an agent in Hollywood or NYC unless you live there. To find a list of SAG franchised agencies in your area, visit http://www.sag.org . Once you have picked out a few different agencies that seem legit or that you like, send them your resume and headshot, along with a cover letter in a yellow envelope. Do not drop these off. (A cover letter is a letter briefly describing why you would be an asset to their company.) If the agency likes you, they will call you in for an interview. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, so don’t get discouraged. If you impress them at the interview, you will be asked to sign with their agency. Please also be aware that if you don’t receive a call from an agency, it’s not that they didn’t like you, it’s just maybe your not what they were looking for. Once you sign with an agency, they will send you on auditions for film, television, commercials, and theater depending on your type of agency.

Those are basically all of the basic steps on how to become a professional actor or actress. I am not guaranteeing success, but if you follow these steps I know that you will get somewhere. Also, keep in mind that most television shows, films, and commercials are shot in Los Angeles and NYC. Eventually, you will have to move to either one of these cities if you are serious about acting.

Check out these sites for acting tips, resources, and more:

http://startips.com/
http://sag.org/
http://cricketfeet.org/bizkids/
http://www.redbirdstudio.com/AWOL

Check out these important tips below:

NEVER attend acting classes at places like John Robert Powers, Barbizon, ProModel

Wow thank you for that. That must have taken a lot of work,Thank youu for putting so much effort into this.
I have been taking acting classes for around 5 years and I didn’t really know where to go from here.Thank youu so much

A woman who lost both her legs as a child has been turned into a mermaid by the Lord of the Rings special effects team so she can go swimming.

Miss Vessey said: "One day a little boy came up, he must have been about four and he saw me taking off my (prosthetic) legs and he started with the ‘why’ questions, you know, ‘why haven’t you got any legs’, etc. "And I said ‘have you heard of The Little Mermaid and he said ‘yes’ and I said ‘I’m a mermaid’ and he got this look on his face and he said ‘wow that’s cool’ and ran off to tell his dad.

The idea grew on her and so she wrote to Oscar winning Weta Workshop, which was also behind the stunning visuals in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ and ‘King Kong’, and asked them to make her a tail.

Miss Vessey says she is thinking of using the tail to help her complete the swimming section of a triathlon. She said: "I thought rather than just having it as a plaything, I would take it further." Miss Vessey began swimming after she had her first leg amputated at seven. Despite having her other leg amputated at 16, she swam competitively in high school and now swims as often as she can.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4839818/Disabled-woman-given-mermaid-tail-to-help-her-swim.html

How lovely-you do find the nicest stories!Isnt this however a contrast with the recent stories of the children’s TV presenter who lost her arm and the ignorance that was directed towards her.This story just proves to me that children will accept anything if it is explained to them and the little boy saying’Thats cool’ is the nicest part of the whole story!

to fund his programmes utilizing Sri Lanka as a launching pad?
“As part of his peace mission, Ravi Shankar also met up with several leaders including Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe and US Ambassador to the country Robert Blake.” Sri Lanka continues to be much more realistic about methods used to meet civilian need.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200904231531.htm
3000+ civilians are reported as being sick or injured and receiving treatment in hospitals in the North.
Thank you WHO for supporting IMPORTANT initiatives for health care for Sri Lanka’s war affected
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_09/April23151054RA.html
The UN continues to have access to IDP populations though the request to enter the Terrorist Held Zone has been denied
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8014312.stm
Why is it that these Blake/Wickremesinghe/Sri Sri (and the like) meetups conclude with such crass stupidities as requests/challenges to resettle civilians in 3 months?
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_09/April23134050RA.html
BTW Sri Sri seems to be a big favorite of a certain loafers – as they attempt to interject his $150 pp "workshop" at every possible opportunity.
As exchange rate has decreased contrbutions in other currencies would be greatly appreciated.
Then there are the political opportunists from abroad that will say anything to get some media face time.
http://www.island.lk/2009/04/23/news1.html

No it’s not true.

Okay I have been looking for dance intensives to go to in 2010. I was wondering how much info you have about all of them, and how good of a chance I have to get in. Heres a little info about my dancing experience:
been dancing ballet (not lk little kid stuff but legit with barre and all) 7 years (going into my 8th this school year) have been on pointe for 1 year this September. Did the 2 week ballet intensive (summer dance workshop) at Boston Ballet last year, was in the 3rd level (not in the 4th only because not on pointe)
4 years of jazz & tap, 1 year of hip hop.
I had flat feet, but have overcome it on my right foot and am working on my left, they’re still flatter than usual. I have a naturally arched back, pretty good turnout, and I’m in good shape for a dancer. My arms are strong and stage presence (and my arms) are some of my strong points. Ive taken ballet 2x a week for 5 years at a good dance school and have progressed at an average level. I am a hard worker cause dancing (mainly ballet) doesn’t really come easily to me, but it just makes me better. This year I will be taking ballet 3x a week, 2x with pointe.
Tell me how much of a chance I have with each intensive and if i should try out, etc etc. Thanks a bunch!:)

Walnut Hill Summer Dance-
http://www.walnuthillarts.org/summer/dance.html

BU REACH! program-
http://www.bu.edu/fitrec/programs/dance/reach/

Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program Newton-
http://www.bostonballet.org/school/summerprograms/SDPNewton_overview.html

Jose Mateo Summer Intensive-
http://www.ballettheatre.org/school_summer

Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet-
http://www.cpyb.org/summer-programs/5-week-summer-program

School of American Ballet Summer Course-
http://www.sab.org/summercourse/

American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive-
http://www.abt.org/education/summerintensive.asp

Alvin Ailey Junior Division Summer Intensive-
http://www.theaileyschool.edu/school_page.php?p=arti&v=80

American Academy of Ballet Summer Intensive-
http://american-academy-of-ballet.com/summerschool/index.html

thanks for the help and happy dancing:)

Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s summer program does not have an audition, but it is an excellent program that is also very popular. SAB puts a lot of emphasis on body type, so your flat feet and only "pretty good turnout" are likely to stand in the way of getting accepted. Otherwise, you would do fine auditioning for anything else on your list and would encourage you to audition for as many of them as you can simply for the experience of auditioning.

The process of auditioning is, in itself, very educational for pre-professional dancers. You not only learn about yourself in relation to other dancers your age, but you get a decent glimpse into the nature of each of the programs you audition for. My daughter loved audition season – still does, actually – for the challenging audition classes, meeting other dancers, meeting the teachers or ADs of the programs, and seeing how well she did. She auditioned twice for SAB and was not accepted both times. But she was accepted to ABT and The Ailey School. (She didn’t go, though.)

STAY AWAY FROM THIS SO CALL MODELING AGENCY. THEY SCAM BOTH ME AND MY SON.PLEASE READ BELOW

Easy Background Check
Diamond Productions, Inc. aka Diamond Productions Talent Booking aka Commercial Cast (http://www.commercialcast.org/) by Christina Aston
Superb "Magazine"; Animations "International"

March 15, 2005

[Last Updated: September 13, 2005]

Addresses
5602 Baltimore National Pike Suite 200
Catonsville, MD 21228

3500 Dolfield Ave.
Box 68012
Baltimore, MD 21215

2226 MADISON AVENUE
BALTIMORE, MD 21217

Inquiries
Several people, both parents and aspiring models and actors, have asked about Diamond Productions, wanting to know if it is legit. The following information was developed in response to public interest.

Report
March 15, 2005

[Last Updated: September 13, 2005]

Ownership/Leadership
Diamond Productions Talent Booking is owned and operated by Christina Aston, an aspiring actress in Baltimore, MD.

Website
The Diamond Productions website is not www.diamondproductions.com, but www.commercialcast.org.

Licensing/Bonding
It was confirmed in March 2005 by the Maryland Department of Labor that Diamond Productions does not need a license (state licensing requirement was repealed in April 2003), but it does have to pay a surety bond in the amount of $7,000, and it has paid this fee. Diamond Productions, therefore, can do business as a modeling and talent agency in Maryland.

However, one of the prohibited acts under the employment law for talent agencies is charging registration fees or advance fees: "An employment agency may not. . . . charge a client a registration fee or collect in advance from a client a payment for service to be performed for the client to obtain employment."

Consumer Comments
Consumers have reported Diamond Productions asked them to pay a registration fee in the amount of $75.00. This was called a job guarantee fee.

BBB
The Better Business Bureau (at the time of writing) received complaints, but it has no unresolved complaints. However, the BBB also noted Diamond Productions has not been forthcoming about basic business information: "The Bureau has requested basic information from this company. The Bureau has not received a response."

Comments
Before doing business or giving money away, consumers should ask Diamond Productions what information they refused to give the BBB and why. The BBB’s standard request for information is not invasive and only intended to protect the public, and most companies provide the requested information.

Background
Diamond Productions claims it has been in business for 10 years (http://commercialcast.org/sys-tmpl/faqaboutus/) [March 15, 2005]. The website of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, however, records it was registered in 1998: "Date of Formation or Registration: 09/10/1998." The record also showed DP’s status was "Forfeited," which means "its existence has been ended by the State for some delinquency." The details for DP: "THE ENTITY WAS FORFEITED FOR FAILURE TO FILE PROPERTY RETURN FOR 1999." "Good standing": "No."

References
All of the references or "Testimonials" DP provided on its website were html text which could not be verified. You cannot tell if they were made up. The About Us page did not provide the names and testimony of any industry leaders or major clients recommending CommercialCast and its unusual practices.

Unusual Practices
Diamond Productions aka CommercialCast is not your typical modeling and talent agency. In fact, after reviewing many different modeling companies, it is fair to say there is nothing like Diamond Productions. It is quite unusual, and not in an obviously good way.

For example, DP says it is not an agency (even though the Maryland law defines an agency as a company that "provides a client with information to enable the client to obtain employment"), but it has paid the surety bond, which is required of every employment (modeling/talent) agency. A model on one modeling website, CurvyChick.com, sarcastically called Diamond Productions a "’non-agent’ agency."

It is also called Diamond Productions Talent Booking, according to the BBB. Booking agencies for modeling and acting jobs typically charge no fees for anything before talent works. DP charges a registration fee and charges talent for several extra services. Typically modeling agencies always take a commission, usually 20%; whereas DP says it does not collect any commission.

DP says it also does "a phone audition service which guarantees talent participation in on-the-spot auditions." (http://commercialcast.org/sys-tmpl/animationsinternational/) [March 15, 2005]. This is highly unusual. Unknown talent receive notices of guaranteed bookings or "Booking Confirmations" for commercials, etc., when they have never even met with the client.

Normally, talent goes to an audition or more than one audition, actually speaks in front of the client or casting director, who can evaluate their look and discern their talent. You have to wonder what kind of clients book talent they have never met. Telephone calls are no substitute for meeting one-on-one.

Fees, Fees, and More Fees
Diamond Productions charges talent advance fees. After they are "booked," they are asked to pay a $75.00 "job guarantee" fee.

> I recently replied by sending a head shot and resume for a casting call
> to a website called www.commercialcast.org. I received a response stating
> that I had been selected to appear in a television ad for XXXX. A speaking
> role for a spec commercial. It seems pretty detailed with an address, the
> amount of pay and shooting date. They do however require a $75.00 job
> guarantee fee. Here is all the information that was emailed to me. I am
> supposed to pay and respond by XX-XX so if you have any information it
> would be greatly appreciated.

This socalled job guarantee fee is not common of modeling/talent agencies and it is widely regarded as unethical to charge talent any registration fees, no matter what terms, phrases, or words are used to conceal or blur the fact they are registration fees.

Talent, further, are asked to pay audition fees. "To participate in the current auditions, you will need to pay a one-time access fee of $60 to Diamond Productions to obtain full access for a period of one year." Reputable modeling and talent agencies do not charge audition fees. (http://commercialcast.org/sys-tmpl/animationsinternational/) [March 15, 2005].

Diamond Productions has devised as many ways as possible to take your money before you work. For an internet "marketing tool" or scrapbook, called a "magazine," you must pay $25. You can pay even more if you want to be featured on their website:

SUPERB MAGAZINE IS AN ONLINE MAGAZINE TO BE VIEWED BY SUBSCRIPTION HOLDERS ONLY. TO BECOME A SUBSCRIPTION HOLDER, YOU MAY RECEIVE ONLINE COPIES OF EACH MONTHLY ISSUE FOR THE AMOUNT OF $25 FOR 6 MONTHS. . . . 1 MONTH APPEARANCE FEE = $50.00. (http://commercialcast.org/sys-tmpl/scrapbook/) [March 15, 2005].

Consumers also report they were asked to pay DP for classes by video. This was highly unusual and self-serving, because the talent had apparently already been booked–before the training!

Why would an agent book talent if it had not been trained or it felt that training was needed? Obviously it normally would not do this, but in the DP case, it gets paid a nice chunk of change.

> I am an aspiring actress and had submitted to this company who now
> says it will book me in a commercial for XXXXX. All I need to do
> is come up for a preparation workshop to guarantee my spot. They
> sent me an email with a contract that looks very good. Please let
> me know about this as I have to sign up by XXXXX to reserve my
> spot.

DP’s commercialcast website indicates they book talent in California:

Commercialcast New York is our Talent Booking Division for New York based talent. This division handles talent to be cast in the New York, New Jersey and the Washington, DC areas. A wide rangs [sic] of bookings are handled in the Los Angeles area of California as well. (http://www.commercialcast.org/sys-tmpl/door/) [March 15, 2005].

California law, however, is extremely strict with respect to advance fees charged to talent. Labor Code 1700, for example, prohibits talent agencies from charging any fees for anything before talent gets work. Talent agencies are not even allowed to collect fees, even if they keep none of them for themselves. The law is set like that because so many scams charged talent advance fees.

How the scheme works
Since DP is uncommon in its fee schedule, not charging commissions, you have wonder why. The only rational explanation is DP thinks or knows it can make more money from charging talent fees instead of getting commissions. What other explanation is there?

There is not enough information available yet to call DP a scam, even though it charges advance fees for registration and classes like many modeling scams, but there is an obvious scheme. The scheme is designed to get talent to pay them before they work and even if they don’t work.

The lure is very strong when talent receives a "Booking Confirmation" notice. This makes it appear as if talent has already got a job. Excitement takes over. It appears as if they are so close to working as an actor or model, the hardest part is complete. Now all they have to do is show up or pay a little fee to guarantee a job. The fee seems so trivial in comparison to the mega bucks they could earn; it seems worth it. This has the effect of stringing talent along.

Then they are told about the acting seminar or video. Less than $200? Nothing compared to the big bucks they’ll earn from commercials and residuals, right? Not so fast!

The fact that DP does not take commissions could mislead talent into thinking they are getting a deal, i.e., after they work, they keep all the money, nothing gets cut for the agency. If the payout, however, is very small, because the job was very minor, it does not help talent, and it is certainly not a "deal."

Money Back
If you want your money back, know that DP paid $7,000 into an "insurance" fund for those who feel they were misled, and you could make a claim for a portion of this money. (First-come, first-served

Yes my friend most of them are scams but everybody wants to be a star. Please make an entry in the sites below.