S: Is for Silent Terribly Silent

In a strange way I switched yesterday and todays column. By turning off our lights there is hope. Our government is going after AIG and the other companies that have been bailed out after committing crimes against humanity. Sounds hopeful, right? Wrong. Timothy F. Geithner, the Treasury secretary, knew about AIG paying $165 million in bonuses to hundreds of employees and he knew at least by March 3rd. He stated that the financial industry had gotten “out of whack” in recent years, and pledged to crack down on exorbitant pay at companies like A.I.G. that were being bailed out with billons of taxpayer dollars. He stated that at the House Ways and Means Committee on March 3 — one week before Mr. Geithner claims he first learned that the failed insurance company was about to pay a round of bonuses that have since caused a political uproar. Mr. Geitner your time frame is off. Yet, he called Edward M. Liddy, the chief executive of A.I.G., and “insisted that they be renegotiated and restructured,” when he found out the American people had learned about this little fopa. It is possible that Geitner, which means the President knew even sooner. Career staff officials at the Treasury, Fed and Federal Reserve Bank of New York exchanged e-mail messages about the A.I.G. bonus program as early as late February. A.I.G. itself revealed the bonus plan in regulatory filings last September. In November, when the bailout were restructured, Treasury and Fed officials negotiated the terms under which retention payments could be made. And in December, Democratic lawmakers sought a hearing about the payments. A.I.G., has received more than $170 billion in capital infusions, loans and credit lines from the federal government since last September, and is about to get $30 billion more. A.I.G. executives insist that they informed the New York Fed and that they in turn were informing the Treasury. If A.I.G.’s plan to pay out $165 million in bonuses came as a surprise to Mr. Geithner, it did not come as a surprise to the Treasury, the Federal Reserve in Washington or the New York Fed. Someone is being silent and that someone is the American people. We have allowed ourselves to be taken advantage of time and time again and this time is no exception. Why are we not getting mad? Why are these CEO's, Madoff and Timothy F. Geithner not being brought up on crimes against humanity? These are crimes and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: Is global togetherness

A trend was started about a year ago, in Australia, Sydney to be exact, of turning off lights for one hour in a show of support for protecting our environment. Soon after, London and San Francisco quickly followed suit. A year later, the organizers of Sydney’s Earth Hour felt that one city at a time doesn’t really cut it. This year the event goes global. Cities from every continent are joining together in solidarity for Earth Hour on March 29th . The event is organized by the World Wildlife Fund International. In 2008, 50 million people switched off their lights, including famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif., Rome's Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House, in Australia, and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square, in New York City. World Wildlife Fund is heading Earth Hour 2009. Their goal is 1 billion votes; each vote is a household or business that turns its lights out for the hour to support our planet. These votes will then be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The idea is as simple as it sounds. On March 29, 2008 at 8:00p.m. local time, every participant city will encourage businesses, community leaders and individuals to turn out their lights for one hour. Earth Hour will send a strong signal that people all around the world are deeply concerned and expect their leaders to take action before it’s too late. Climate change is a global challenge that requires global solutions and it’s clear that the people of this planet are ready to get involved and find the answers. Earth Hour does not measure the amount of energy saved during the hour of no lights, but it is not just a symbolic event meant to show political leaders the public is serious about the planet. That hour is only one aspect of Earth Hour. And while there is symbolism, Earth Hour claims aim for a larger and longer impact on peoples' lifestyles. It says it wants to encourage long-term actions that will reduce the carbon footprints on a continuing permanent basis. Lets turn off our lights for that hour and make this a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for celebrity fopa

The Prince & Princess of Asturias (Spain) arrived in New York, Sunday for a three day good will mission. Incredibly charismatic and charming they are the perfect diplomats for their country. Along with the Spanish Industry Minister, Miguel Sabastian Gascon, they hope to present a 20 million euro 'Made in Spain' initiative. "Spain is a country where ingenuity and effort have given rise to ideas and companies that lead the world', said Sebastián in his presentation where he was accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Asturias and representatives of over a hundred Spanish companies with a presence in the US. The plan includes development of alternative energy sources (wind farms and solar energy in particular), infrastructure construction and management, high speed rail links, water treatment and desalination and the application of new technology in the health service and education. Spain has the largest wind farm construction company in the world. This all comes about thanks to the economic stimulus plan from President Obama. It is interesting to note that Sovereign Bank is not American owned, as most people think but Spanish. It is also interesting, that the NAFTA Super Highway that is being built is not by an American company but a Spanish company. I attended a luncheon where the press were invited, who knew if you asked a question and it was answered you could cause an international incident but let me tell you in complete innocence you can. I wouldn't of asked the question had there been press kits or anything in english. If you want to present good will you should have your PR representatives a little more gracious, much like the Prince and Princess. And that is a royal F.A.C.T.

A: Is for art that begs us to heed its words

Arthur Miller is one of the worlds greatest playwrights and in seeing The Actors Company's (TACT) Production of Incident at Vichy, it is easy to see why. Miller uses time periods in history to make us see what is relevant today. To open our eyes to the horror which is humanity and to offer hope. As the play starts we are lead into flashbacks like a nightmare coming to life. First one man appears, then three, until nine men from different backgrounds are on a bench in a holding room in Vichy, France. It is 1942. As they talk, Miller examines ordinary men, who become victims, immobilized with fear when faced with a truth that is inconceivable. Refusing to believe that such behavior can possibly exist in a civilized world, they question everything but what the reality in front of them. The Nazi captain who serves an ideology, lives with an abstract concept of "there are no persons anymore." He begins to question his own role as he learns what is expected. As the truth comes out, about what is awaiting them denial sets in. We've all wondered how this could of happened, and this is how. And it is how it will happen again. In The TACT production the acting is consistent, however Mark Alhadeff as the painter, Lebeau and Jeffery C Hawkins as Professor Hoffman fail to illicit an emotional sympathetic responses. Standouts include Ron MaClary as Baynard, Jack Koenig as Major and Todd Gearhart as Von Burg. The scene between the Major and The Professor is breathtakingly honest, chillingly illuminating the mindset that was happening. The set by Scott Bradley and lights by Mary Louise Gieiger set the terror history revealed. The direction by Scott Allan Evans is honest and lets Millers words do what they do best sink into our skins like shards of glass. Miller write this play (1964) not about the holocaust trying to understand the McCarthy era which had just happened. Miller understood that it was just the tip of the iceberg. Incident at Vichy is playing at The Beckett 410 West 42nd Street  Monday and Wednesday-Friday at 7:30 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM. Tickets are $26.25-$56.25 and are available through Ticket Central at www.ticketcentral.com. This is a play that is relevant to today and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Fashion off the Richter Scale

During Fashion Week a renegade fashion show happens, hosted by designer Andres Aquino. Welcome, Couture Fashion Week, held at the Waldorf Astoria. I have attended a variety of these shows for the past 3 years and they are a breath of fresh air from the tents. Though not always professional they can be a lot of fun. Mostly over the top, you come away with a couple of designers that are a find. The production values are also a hit or miss crap shoot but again you can come away with seeing something fresh and exciting. This year was no different. I started with Soucha Couture from Egypt. This show was highly entertaining as it seemed that Soucha was designing for brothels and their inhabitants. From the lowest of hookers to the courtesan being presented to a king, Soucha showed every kind of garment this girl would wear. Some of the garments, leaving nothing to the imagination with clothes so sheer, the models were basically naked. Next up Dany Atrache from Lebanon presented a feminine, sophisticated palate for a women with taste. Bright colors blended with beaded creme bodices made this a designer to watch. The next day Andres presented his designs. Though I liked pieces of this collection, it was in-cohesive. There were too many themes. I did like the African pieces and the red dress where he used a necklace as a back ornament. That was sheer genius. Vocce Couture, just made me cringe, while Jorge Diep Couture a native of the Dominican Republic, had me in awe. He took the ideas of Soucha Couture but made it wearable. Sheer netting was beaded, all done in all the right places. The effect was a body ornamented to perfection. Just the right amount of flash without being trash. It was a seductive play on is she or isn't she and it was compelling. Last up was the most wearable and I wanted the whole collection. Linda Ellis from Australia captured my heart. Caftans, Kimonos and Tunics were paired with pencil thin pants with wide belts. The fabrics were all hand tie dyed and inspired by the West Australian land, sea and skyscapes. They were breathtaking and that is a F.A.C.T.