Tragically Cool & Totally Hip Interrogative Tones.
Refreshing to see a Hollywood writer who stands up for himself. In this case, it's a writer who needs no introduction. Harlan Ellison is known for being outspoken. But it's good to be reminded as a creative that your value is in what you create. You should be paid for it.
(BTW, NSFW if foul language gets you in trouble.)

There's really no commentary here, other than to say that there's a reason the DIY culture in music is not mass producing new Michael Jacksons, REMs and Led Zeppelins.
When they say, "Write what you know," I'm assuming most people forget the other important point, which is to make the material universally accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
This is just weird. {FRUITLESS! RUTHLESS!}
Barbara Ehrenreich talks about her new book, Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America.
I suppose you could posit that she's just some sort of killjoy. I'd be willing to bet she might just be tapping into the Zeitgeist here. You be the judge.
Part II: