B13 Peer Review

Southern slaveholders often used biblical passages to justify slavery. Those who defended slavery rose to the challenge set forth by the Abolitionists. The defenders of slavery included economics, history, religion, legality, social good, and even humanitarianism, to further their arguments. Defenders of slavery argued that the sudden end to the slave economy would have had a profound and killing economic impact in the South where reliance on slave labor was the foundation of their economy. The cotton economy would collapse. The tobacco crop would dry in the fields. Rice would cease being profitable. Defenders of slavery argued that if all the slaves were freed, there would be widespread unemployment and chaos. This would lead to uprisings, bloodshed, and anarchy. They pointed to the mob's "rule of terror" during the French Revolution and argued for the continuation of the status quo, which was providing for affluence and stability for the slavehol...

Kanye West performs at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles February 8, 2015. ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images       Ratings were down 13 percent from 2014, but Sunday's unexpectedly serious Grammy Awards had no shortage of water-cooler moments. Below are the ones that piqued viewers' interest, according to Nielsen, Twitter, Facebook and more. 2015 Grammy Awards Overall, there were 24.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen's TV ratings for the P2+ (total viewers) demographic, down 13 percent from 2014's 28.5 million -- the lowest since 2009. On Twitter, there were more than 13.4 million tweets referencing the Grammys sent between Nielsen's monitoring period of 5 p.m. Feb. 8 and 2:30 a.m. ET the next day, down 2.8 percent from 2014.  

Are police officers racist? Depending on who you ask, you will get very different answers. But now the FBI has weighed in, and the answer they gave may surprise a lot of people. In an unusually blunt admission, FBI Director James B. Comey addressed what he called the “hard truths” about policing. He openly acknowledged the racial bias that exists among police officers across the nation. Director Comey said, with serious dismay, that there is a “disconnect” between police and non-white communities. “We are at a crossroads,” Comey explained. “As a society, we can choose to live our lives every day, raising our families, going to work and hoping someone, somewhere will do something to ease the tension, to smooth over the conflict… Or we can choose instead to have an open and honest discussion about what our relationship is today.” Comey was addressing students at Georgetown University. His words might not have made waves if they had come out of anyone else’s mouth. But they w...

Transformed Have you gone through an extreme physical transformation? If so casting directors for a major cable network may want to hear your story for possible casting in a new TV series. Location: Nationwide Type: Docu-series CASTING FOR A NEW SERIES: “TRANSFORMED” We are currently casting for a BRAND NEW SERIES for a MAJOR CABLE NETWORK and are searching nationwide for people who have been through a physical transformation so extreme and profound that they are unrecognizable to the people who knew them before their metamorphosis. If you have gone through a massive physical change of any kind in recent years we will travel back in time with you to reveal your “new” self to key people who only know the “old” you. Maybe there is someone you want to thank for always being on your side and seeing you through the tough times; or someone to whom you never revealed a deep secret. Let us capture the celebration of your new life chapter, and help your long...

Hypsteria!   Location: Denver, CO Type: Film Auditions for 5-6 min short film. Needed are 2 Females and 1 Male Saturday, February 14th and Sunday, February 15th 7:00pm – 8:30pm Synopsis: Hoping for a successful first date with a girl out of his league, Miles, a successful computer programmer, hires Tabatha Ridley, a razor-sharp personality coach, to transform him into a hipster. During the process, an unexpected connection forms between him and Tabatha’s oppressed model assistant, Cassie. Their bond challenges both Tabatha’s militant process of transformation as well as Miles’ intention of being someone other than himself. Must be available Saturday, February 21st from 8am-2pm and Sunday, February 22nd from 8am-12pm to shoot. To schedule an audition and for audition location, please e-mail Will Treat at wctreat@gmail.com Please come prepared with a comedic or dramatic monologue (30 sec. or longer). These are non-paid positions. Meals will be ...

Location: Chicago Type: Film We are currently casting for an independent feature length comedy called “Wife’s Away,” shooting this summer in the midwest. Our director is from Chicago and is looking for a talented local unknown for a small featured role to be used as a running bit throughout the film. We are open to males of any age or ethnicity…the line could go many different ways, so we want to try out some different types to see who can really make something special out of it. Please respond with headshot and resume if interested, no cover letter required. If we’re interested in seeing more, we’ll have you put the line on tape, as we’re based in Los Angeles and will not be doing local casting. Non-union talent only. E-mail with any questions. Payment: Paid City or Location of call: Chicago Please submit to: stonethrowcasting@gmail.com by 2015-02-15 This casting notice was posted by: Stone Throw Casting Please Remember t...

Evolution Theatre Company in Columbus announces auditions for YANK! ALL ROLES ARE PAID! YANK! (Musical Serio-Comedy) Music by Joseph Zellnik, Book & Lyrics by David Zellnik Performances: May 27 – June 6, 2015 Directed by Jimmy Bohr Musical direction by Michael Medvidik Choreography by Edward Carignan Yank! is a love song to Hollywood’s “it takes one of every kind” platoon flicks and to 1940′s Broadway. It’s the kind of old-fashioned musical that makes you feel as if you’re watching an amalgam of World War II movies and listening to some old long playing records of swing music by the Glenn Miller band and the Andrew sisters. Thus, if all the characters seem a little like stereotypes of the G.I. Joes who were thrown together in a war fought by an across-the-board draft rather than a volunteer service corps, that’s part of this show’s charm and intent. It’s a memory piece triggered by a diary found in a junk shop. It’s a typically bittersweet wartime l...