What did you do on your summer vacation? Ellen DeGeneres got married to girlfriend Portia de Rossi in California. Her talk show returns this week, but first she spoke to Ramin Setoodeh about all things Ellen.
I'm sorry. I'll call you right back. I am always either on time or way early. So one minute is perfect for me.
Everyone sells things, and they have obvious things like coffee mugs. I wanted something different, so I thought of boxer briefs. There are a lot of men that wear them all the time. I saw Martin Sheen at some airport. He pulled his pants down to show me he had Ellen underwear on.
We have photos and video. We're not going to show the ceremony—that's too intimate. But we have this meadow. We were trying to take pictures before the guests arrived. Every time we went out, helicopters would circle, so we were running back and forth. There's a lot of footage of us running back and forth.
No. We did something that was nontraditional but not weird. I think you could find a straight couple that had a weirder wedding than us.
Oh, yeah. I cried when I saw her, because we didn't want to see our outfits beforehand. Actually, I could cry right now thinking about it. I never thought I would have that experience of getting married. I didn't think I was missing anything. I just didn't think about it. But to see her for the first time and to cut a wedding cake, that was surreal for me and I got to experience that with our families around us. I didn't realize how special it was until I did it.
I'd never wear a dress. I don't ever feel comfortable in a dress. The last time I wore a dress was 12 years ago. I've never liked them, even when I was younger.
Well, yeah. I'll do anything for a laugh. But I think your wedding day should be about being comfortable. Zac Posen designed our outfits. My shirt was sheer and it was lace and ribbon through it. It was more feminine than I would go, but it was still a gorgeous look. There's no way to compete with the dress Portia was wearing, so why try?
I don't know. They're cute, but they're a lot of trouble. There's always something to worry about at every age.
CNW | Veridian announces 2015 financial performance and highlights major accomplishments at its annual shareholders' meeting	
Veridian announces 2015 financial performance and highlights major accomplishments at its annual shareholders' meeting
AJAX, ON, June 22, 2016 /CNW/ - During its annual shareholders' meeting held today in Ajax, Veridian Corporation ("Veridian") Chair Adrian Foster alongside President and CEO Michael Angemeer provided shareholders with an update on the company's financial results and business operations. They announced that the utility achieved consolidated net earnings of $9.6 million in 2015.
"Veridian's history of strong financial performance and solid fiscal management continued in 2015," said Foster. "Distribution revenue remained steady, dividends paid to our shareholder communities increased, and we successfully negotiated financing that is lowering our overall borrowing costs over the next decade."
Shareholder equity has increased $16.0 million, or an average of four per cent annually, since 2011.
The Board of Directors approved a dividend policy for the years 2012 to 2016 with base dividends of $4.7 million each year, subject to certain provisions.
Veridian maintained its "A" stable trend credit rating, supported by the strength of its financial profile and balance sheet.
Adding to Veridian's strong financial results, Angemeer reported that the company recorded exceptional operational performance in a number of key areas in 2015. "Our employees continue to be industry leaders when it comes to customer service and workplace safety – recording a 90 per cent customer satisfaction rating and reaching 1 million hours without a lost-time injury. These are outstanding achievements that demonstrate the passion and commitment to service excellence and workplace safety among our employees repeated year over year, with previous customer service ratings over 90 per cent and a previous lost time injury record of over ten years." He added, "The theme of this year's annual report is – In Their Words – where we are thrilled to highlight customer and stakeholder testimonials of what they think of Veridian."
Angemeer also pointed out the recognition the company received in 2015. "We were excited to be named one of Canada's Greenest Employers for a sixth consecutive year – a designation that recognizes our leadership in creating a culture of environmental awareness in our workplace, and honoured to have received the Smart Commute Workplace – Silver designation for our commitment to promoting and supporting sustainable transportation options for our employees." He went on to say, "In a carbon constrained world, with increasingly valuable uses for clean electricity, existing and new employees attracted by our passion for protecting the environment will help make the company even more successful."
Both Foster and Angemeer briefly discussed the potential merger with Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation and Whitby Hydro Energy Corporation. Both strongly agree that merging the three utilities has the potential to achieve greater shareholder value and optimize services and value for customers. "If the business case review currently underway proves positive, the proposed consolidation would enable us to assure greater resilience and sustainability of our electricity distribution systems for the future, while achieving new synergies to benefit shareholder communities as well as the residents and businesses the utilities serve," said Foster.
Foster and Angemeer are committed to keeping Veridian on its path to providing reliable, efficient and sustainable energy services to its customers, while ensuring the company continues to deliver optimal return on investment to shareholders and promoting economic growth in the communities that it serves. They are also excited at the opportunities that lie ahead for Veridian, particularly the development of the Seaton community in north Pickering, opportunities in renewable generation and combined heat and power, and the microgrid pilot project that's underway at the company's corporate headquarters in Ajax. They thanked a progressive board, executive and all staff for all of their efforts to make Veridian a great company.
Veridian Corporation owns and operates Veridian Connections, a subsidiary company that distributes electricity, generates power and provides energy services to more than 119,000 customers. The City of Pickering, the Town of Ajax, the Municipality of Clarington and the City of Belleville jointly own Veridian Corporation. The utility is about to become the fifth largest municipally owned electric utility in Ontario after the merger of large utilities west of Toronto is completed. Veridian has a successful history of effective growth through two mergers and five acquisitions, and now serves nine communities east and north of Toronto more efficiently than any other large non-contiguous utility in Ontario. Veridian has a keen focus on reliability, customer communication and helping to lower customers' electricity bills through the delivery of innovative conservation programs and reasonable rates. Veridian not only contributes to local communities through industry leading financial returns, but also helps build stronger communities through the support of youth, health, economic development, education, the arts, the environment and the disadvantaged. Industry leading employee and public safety, environmental programs and a focus on employee engagement has created an environment that has attracted seven consecutive Canada's Greenest Employer awards and one Top GTA Employer award. Veridian has now diversified into renewable energy, and will be establishing other value added offerings for its customers.
We've all had it. That eureka, light-bulb moment where the perfect life-changing idea is suddenly oh so clear to us.
But in all likelihood, total and complete failure wasn't a part of that plan. Hit Broadway musical The Producers takes the standard ideas we have about success and how to get there and turns them on their head.
Currently onstage at the San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, the show is also just a good time, filled with laughs and charming musical numbers from start to finish.
SINK TO SWIM IN CASH Famous Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Billy Breed, right) and lowly accountant Leo Bloom (Toby Tropper) hatch a plan to get rich off a play that they hope will bomb.
After attempting to make a musical version of Hamlet a big hit, Max Bialystock (Billy Breed) bemoans his fate as the former "King of Old Broadway," when his show opens and closes on the same night. Later, when the ever anxious accountant Leo Bloom (Toby Tropper) comes by to audit Bialystock's books, a seemingly terribly idea is born when Leo realizes a producer could potentially make more money off a play that fails than one that has a successful run. The two team up to find and produce the worst play ever, and mayhem and laughs ensue.
The 2001 musical was adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1967 film of the same name. Kevin Harris, managing artistic director for SLO Rep, helms the production alongside Lacy McNamara (owner of Lyrics and Melodies Studios in Los Osos), who's overseeing musical direction, and Andrew Silvaggio (artistic director of the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo) stepping in as choreographer.
Breed makes his SLO Rep debut with this show and has also acted in performances with the Great American Melodrama, the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA), and the Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Alongside the sweet, yet so nervous he might fall over bundle of nerves that is Tropper's Leo, Breed shines as the right amount of despicable and admirable. Sure, he's down and out, trading sex favors with old ladies for money for his shows, but he's going to make things happen. A touch of charming naiveté from Tropper (a PCPA graduate who, according to his bio, "once met Mel Brooks and they had a very nice chat about tomato sandwiches") allows the duo to bounce perfectly off each other.
DREAM BIG, KID Emboldened by his dreams of becoming a Broadway producer, Leo Bloom (Toby Tropper, center) finally leaves his miserable accounting job and tyrannical boss behind.
Morality aside, the show is an homage to Broadway, playfully poking fun at the world of theater and also creating caricatures of Nazis and gay culture within the theater scene along the way. Mike Mesker (recently seen as the Old Man in A Christmas Story at SLO Rep) and Cameron Parker (PCPA grad and seen in SLO Rep's Our Town) deliver standout performances as the worst director ever and his fabulous "common law assistant." Meanwhile, Seth Blackburn marches in as the frightening and hilarious Hitler-loving playwright who pens Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden.
When things don't go exactly according to plan, Bialystock bemoans to Leo, "We got the wrong play, the wrong director, the wrong cast. Where did we go right?"
In spite of their best efforts, Bialystock and Leo just manage to find some success, in show biz and friendship. Δ
Those who couldn't find a seat lined the walls and eventually spilled out into the lobby of the San Luis Obispo County Government Center on April 11.
FACE OFF Greg Clayton (left) and Ian Parkinson (right) participated in a debate April 11 as both men attempt to woo voters for the SLO County sheriff's race.
They were there to see the first debate in the race for SLO County sheriff, pitting incumbent Ian Parkinson against his challenger, former police officer and current private investigator Greg Clayton.
The race has revolved around the death of SLO County Jail inmate Andrew Holland, a schizophrenic man who died of an embolism in January 2017 after being strapped in a restraint chair for 46 hours. Disturbing footage of Holland's death released last month galvanized supporters on both sides.
"I know that there are some very volatile issues involved in regard to this particular race," said Jacqueline Frederick, president of the SLO County Latino Outreach Council, which hosted the debate.
Clayton, who has made the Holland case the centerpiece for his campaign, dove right into the issue during his opening remarks.
"The torture of Andrew Holland was completely avoidable, and the resulting cover-up by the sheriff is an insult to this county," he said. "It's time for new leadership. It's time to restore the public confidence in our sheriff."
Parkinson touted his record and experience, telling the audience that he has been implementing a number of reforms at the jail rolled out in the wake of Holland's death.
Parkinson said he believed he had the experience to make those changes at the jail and run the office. He said he'd worked in law enforcement for 34 years, while Clayton worked in law enforcement for 13 years but was medically retired and didn't have management experience.
"He was a line-level police officer," Parkinson said. "He did not have any supervision or management experience."
The questions, which were submitted by members of the audience, touched on more than Holland's death and included topics such as opiate use and abuse, school safety, gang activity, and human trafficking.
Both candidates also weighed in on whether they'd support a citizen oversight committee. Clayton said he strongly supported creating such a committee, and Parkinson said he'd be open to it.
"I would say that I would not be opposed, but we have to be careful," Parkinson said. "We have to have an educated group to understand the complexities of both the Bill of Rights for police officers and also to respect the privacy of individuals who are protected by law. ... Having something like that I would not be afraid of."
Both candidates said they had serious concerns about Senate Bill 54, the so-called "sanctuary state" bill. Parkinson said the law hampered the department's ability to communicate with federal partners and made it hard for the federal government to take dangerous criminals out of local jails.
"Our inability to relinquish these individuals to custody of ICE causes them to be returned to the communities which they prey upon," he said.
"We have made a directional change. ... I'm not finished. I can make this change. I've proven that I was successful before, and I'll prove it again."
I_n your story in this week’s issue, “One Gram Short,” a man hesitates to ask a woman he likes to a movie, because he feels that it implies too much desire or commitment. Instead, he thinks, he will invite her to smoke a joint. Do you agree with him that pot-smoking is more casual than moviegoing?_
The first time I smoked pot was in a friend’s apartment. There was a girl there whom I really, really liked, and she handed me the joint she was smoking. I’d been offered joints a few times before and I’d always passed, but with that girl it was different. I was not thinking at all about the pot and its effect, just about the opportunity to have her fingers touch mine when she passed me the joint. Her fingertips felt dry and cold in a nice way, and I almost fumbled the joint. I took my first puff thinking about the fact that she had a boyfriend, and that this was as close as I would ever get to being with her. And still, even from more than twenty-five years’ distance, I remember that moment as a very romantic one.
Except for sex, there aren’t many secrets that adults can share with strangers, and this can sometimes make a pot moment a very special one. In my life, I have often said no to a joint because I didn’t want to share that intimacy with the person who offered it to me. I think that what the protagonist in this story is really seeking is that kind of intimacy, and I guess that, by the end of the story, he will find a way to ask for it without a smoke.
Because your hero feels awkward asking Shikma out, he gets himself caught up in a far more awkward situation. Is this story a comedy of errors?
There is some inauthentic and misplaced aura to almost everything that happens in the story. It is about a guy who wants to smoke a joint with a girl not because he wants to get high but because he is too stressed to tell her that he likes her. And it is about two guys who shout at a defendant in a courtroom not because they are enraged by his deeds but because they believe that it will get them some pot. Throughout the story, there is a sense of awkwardness: people who exchange small talk as a ritual and with no real interest in the answers they’ll get to their questions, people with a physical closeness that doesn’t derive from any emotional one. The wish to reach an authentic moment is, for me, the engine of the story.
The court case in the story is an especially fraught one, because it involves an Arab hit-and-run driver and a Jewish child. Have you seen similar cases in Israel? Would they make news?
Yes, this kind of case is common, and, as in the story, you sometimes feel that the people who are commenting on these cases in a very impassioned way are talking less about the cases themselves or even about their racial phobias than about something else: their take on humanity, their lack of optimism, an anger or a fear that they cannot control and that is totally detached from the subject at hand. Many of these politically loaded cases seem, at times, like vehicles for people’s random emotions to hitchhike on.
In your climactic scene, you have Avri call the Arab driver a “terrorist.” Avri denies that there’s anything political or racist about the term, explaining, “The settlers also have terrorists.” Is his claim defensible?
There is an old Israeli joke about an Israeli-Palestinian who finishes his law studies and goes to ask for a job at a big Tel Aviv-based law firm. One of the senior partners takes him to a huge, beautiful office and tells him that it’s his new office, then hands him the keys to a Porsche and tells him that it’s his new car. “You’re kidding!” the Israeli-Palestinian says, surprised. “I am,” the senior partner says. “But you started it.”
In a better world, this joke wouldn’t be funny. But, in a country full of so much suspicion, which quickly translates into racial tension and violence, it is, if in a very bitter way. The same goes for Avri’s argument: in a reality that is less xenophobic and tense than the one we have in Israel, his claim would be completely defensible. But in the Israel we live in today it is nothing short of ridiculous.
In the course of working on the story, you said that it was important to you that Avri embody Israeli racism. Is Avri’s behavior surprising in any way, or more or less predictable?
I wouldn’t define Avri’s behavior as typically Israeli but, rather, as opportunistically human. Avri makes his racist remarks while being totally focussed on doing whatever it takes to get his plastic goodie bag full of pot. In a sense, Avri is no more than a litmus test, and his cries in the courtroom are a simple exploitation of an existing zeitgeist. As he explicitly says in the story, when you live in a country where smoking a joint is illegal but shouting at an Arab in court is normative, you just go with the flow.
The style of the story is deceptively light and fast-paced. The final message, it seems to me, is that it’s impossible to do anything in Israel—even ask out a pretty waitress—without politics entering into it. Do you think that’s true?
I read it in a different way. For me, it is a story about a guy who yearns for an authentic moment and hopes to reach it with the help of pot, but in the end (accidentally) reaches it with the help of a black eye instead.
In the U.S., we’re not used to thinking of recreational pot-smoking as dependent on Al Qaeda activity or on strife in Syria. Is Israeli pot all imported, not homegrown?
The pot situation in Israel is very much connected to the region’s geopolitical changes. Traditionally, most of the pot was imported from neighboring countries, and whenever a war was being fought it had an immediate effect on the market. So, in our region, even the most detached pot-headed hipsters find themselves unable to escape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.