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Citizen Recap: 30 Days Working in a Coal Mine

LibertySugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:49 -0700

Did you think I forgot to watch the season premiere of 30 Days, with all of Tuesday's Democratic nomination wrap up, and the accompanying speech mania? Well, don't worry, because even though this recap is a day late, I still caught the episode which had filmmaker Morgan Spurlock working under the earth's surface for 30 days as a West Virginian coal miner.

Morgan spent his 30 days living with 35-year veteran miner Dale Lusk and his wife Sandy. Every morning before Dale left for the mines at around 2:00 a.m. he wrote Sandy a love note, just in case a disaster prevented him from returning home that day. The episode helped explain what motivates miners like Dale to take such risks - and the biggest incentive seemed to be cash. Dale, who has no college degree, makes over $100,000 a year.

Morgan slowly became accustomed to the dark, and labor-intensive life of a miner. To find out more about his experience, read more.

In fact, he soon appreciated the tranquility and novelty of working beneath the earth's surface. But, near crises shocked Morgan out of his false sense of security, as did the reality that many miners, and some he had built relationships with, face debilitating health conditions like black lung.

Coal mining makes up 50 percent of America's energy supply. This episode reminded me that when I work or play on my computer, with my television, or anything else that requires electricity, I am depending on the routine and dangerous efforts of a West Virginian Coal miner.

Did you catch the episode? Stay tuned next week for 30 Days in a Wheelchair . . .

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Let's Watch Season Three of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days

CitizenSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:30:00 -0700

Morgan Spurlock of Where in the World is Osama bin Laden fame is kicking off season three of his TV show 30 Days on June 3 (that's a Tuesday at 10 p.m.) Since Liberty and I don't always see completely eye-to-eye, we're excited to watch the show - and pick sides to root for.

The show takes a look at social issues in America by making people live an alternate life that requires them to "see the world through another's eyes" for - you guessed it - 30 days. The season includes these topics: working in a coal mine, animal rights, living in a wheel chair, same-sex parenting, gun nation and life on an Indian reservation. Who's watching with us?

Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? In Theaters!

CitizenSugar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:00:25 -0700

I must have been in a cave this weekend - or so busy talking about Ben Stein's Expelled that I completely forgot to mention that Morgan Spurlock's new flick, Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden opened this weekend. I've been following this film since way back, and now that it's out it sounds like part of a perfect afternoon - a nice double feature of intelligent design and terrorist hunting. Buzz would approve.

The trailer makes it seem like a wacky romp, which is odd given the sort of global gravity of finding bin Laden, but I'll bet Spurlock has some pretty scathing commentary on the man's elusiveness. Are you going to check it out? The reviews are in if you want to research before investing in a ticket. I wonder what topic Spurlock will take on next? Do you like his affable take on serious issues? Does he give Michael Moore a run for his money?

Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:01:46 -0800

Morgan Spurlock, director of the fantastic documentary, Super Size Me, is expected to hit the Sundance Film Festival, with a brand new creation titled, Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden. Solidifying Morgan's reputation as a bankable name, the Weinsteins' impulse bought his new pic at the Berlin Film Festival after only seeing 15 minutes of it.

Buzz is that Morgan, during his 800 hours of footage and extensive travel over the entire Middle East, actually found the elusive bin Laden. Do you think he brought him a Big Mac? The movie is wrapped in 17 layers of top secret duct tape until it makes its premiere at Sundance, January 17-27. I cannot wait to see it. Do you think it's possible? Do you think Morgan managed to find bin Laden, or is it just movie hype?

Enter to Win One of Five DVD Copies of "Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?"!

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:00:51 -0700

Our friends at The Weinstein Company and Genius Products gave us five copies of Morgan Spurlock's film Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? to share with you readers.

Ever since I saw Super Size Me alone in the middle of the afternoon eating a McDonald's salad I sneaked in (I think that's what they call irony? Or close anyway . . .), I've been obsessed with Morgan Spurlock and his freakishly accessible yet pointed style of documentary. The man can do no wrong. I'm just as big a fan of this doc for its added bonus: getting to see the real people that live in the countries we read about all the time. Whether he found Osama or not, the film humanizes the far-off region in a way that makes the movie. I want you to own it!

To enter, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Aug. 29, 2008, at 5 p.m. PDT. For Official Rules, click here.

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Day 1: Here's What We're Checking Out at the Convention

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:56:32 -0700

Good morning politics fans! We're up bright and early and raring to go - the convention is a like a politico's Olympics and Super Bowl all rolled into one, and we have big plans today:

We have an interview with Tom Sheridan, an expert on celebrity activism.
Morgan Spurlock is giving a Q&A on Where in the World is Osama bin Laden.
We're checking out the Google and Huffington Post "retreats" for political bloggers. After all even the New York Times says this is the year of the blogger.
Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Obama, Jimmy Carter - and I hear rumors of a live appearance by Ted Kennedy - are all speaking tonight on the convention floor.
Rock the Vote's Ballot Bash featuring Fall Out Boy is tonight
Planned Parenthood is hosting a "Sex and Politics" cocktail party that we hear Aisha Tyler and Ashley Judd will be attending.

Check back as the day goes on and we'll keep you updated you on our adventures! Oh and those tornadoes that hit Denver as soon as the convention opened? I'm sure that wasn't a sign. . . right?

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Are Gas Prices the Real Reason For the Housing Crisis?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:45:17 -0700

I'm already a fan of Scotty Iseri's politically-charged pop music - but when he puts together a Morgan Spurlock-esque explanation about how the housing crisis isn't really due so much to "predatory lending" and "reckless borrowing" but the cost of getting out to those McMansions my interest was piqued.

Scotty's piece studies Buffalo Grove, outside of Chicago, IL, where residents spend almost a quarter of their income on transportation cost, and nothing is accessible without getting behind a wheel. Showing how Buffalo Grove's houses have declined 8 percent in value, while Chicago - where it's possible to live close to everything you need without getting in a car has seen housing prices go up almost 10 percent, makes a lot of sense. Similar trends are happening in Portland, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles, where the draw of houses far away pales in comparison to that ubiquitous "pain at the pump."

What do you think? Is gas the real grinch?

What's That Disgusting Mess? Oh. It's Just School Lunches

CitizenSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:45:14 -0700

So what are you fixing for dinner? Taco Patty perhaps? How about a Round Wedge Pizza or Chicken Fryz? That's what's on the menu in the Harrisonburg, VA, school system. They're so proud of their fare, the posted big ol' pictures of them in all their glory on their website. I was hungry - right up until the point I saw these pics. Count 'em 22 different meals, and I only saw one green thing in the whole lot. The saddest lunch? The Italian Dunkers. Or, Cut Up White Bread With Sugary Spaghetti Sauce.

No wonder we're facing a childhood obesity epidemic. What makes this all the more alarming, is that so many kids rely on these meals to combat hunger. In the 2006-2007 school year, 16.3 million kids got free or reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program, a stat that's particularly poignant here in the midst of Summer. Reports show that Summer nutrition programs aren't meeting needs, and sponsors are backing out as rising food and fuel costs makes it impossible not to lose money.

The conundrum of course is what's cost effective and what will kids eat? For kids weaned on Cheetos and corn dogs, the goop in the pictures probably tastes fine. It's far from fine for them though.

To see which schools are combating the Italian Dunker, read more.

In (my hero) Morgan Spurlock's movie SuperSize Me he profiled Appleton Central High School where kids are given fresh, wholesome, low-fat food through Natural Ovens, resulting in happier, more-focused students. Arkansas is hoping to be a "model state" in addressing childhood obesity, starting with banning vending machines. California has already banned trans fats in schools.

With poor communities getting the brunt of the Taco Patty (42 percent of Bronx elementary students are overweight) and school-lunch prices climbing even further (40 percent more in Des Moines) what's the solution? How can schools better serve our kids lunch?

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