Our deep DC mole has stuck his head up above ground long enough to send FATHER GEEK the following coded spy report. Our AICN headquarters staff promptly set about decoding the document for you. Make of it what you will fellow geeks. Verrrry, enter resting! Here's what super agent Frank Horrigan had to say...
This is only tangentially related to the world of cinema and television, but I couldn't resist using this opportunity to give you the early word. Perhaps you can use this item as encouragement for your U.S. readers to help out their country.
I happen to work for Uncle Sam, and today I was at a presentation giving an early look at the upcoming media blitz that will accompany Census 2000. I learned that Khan will be providing the voiceover for some of the commercials targeted for Hispanic communities. Additionally, one of the advertisements represents the directorial debut of Edward James Olmos. Delroy Lindo and Alfre Woodard did voiceover duty for two of the advertisements targeted toward African-American communities, and Bobby McFerrin lent his musical talents to one of the advertisements as well. There was a rumor that Chris Rock had been offered the job as voice of the Census 2000 mailback questionnaire, but based on the advertisement that we were shown he passed if that was the case. Interestingly, he still gave the census a plug in a joke earlier this year at the MTV Video Music Awards. (When introducing The Artist, he referred to him as a guy with more records than the Census Bureau.)
I realize this isn't earth-shattering motion picture news, but being in the position that I am (i.e., a huge fan of your site who could appreciate some of the talent involved and one of the few readers of yours who was in a position to see the presentation) I couldn't resist. The campaign actually begins next week. It probably will not hit on all cylinders until next March through June, as that is the time at which questionnaires will be delivered and enumerators will be out in the field.
Your readers might ask: why should we complete our census forms? I'll let the campaign do the talking, but a couple of the most fundamental reasons are Congressional apportionment and federal funding for schools, hospitals, etc. An accurate census lets the government know what communities need and where those needs should be fulfilled. The data is only taken once every ten years, so cooperation is vital in creating a reliable source of information which can be put to good use by so many people. Your readers need not fear about confidentiality issues. All census employees take an oath to hold the data sacred. What are released to the public as a product are purely statistical summaries. Other government agencies such as the CIA, the FBI, Immigration, the IRS, etc., do not use data about individuals to snoop on us... At least they are not legally empowered to do so!
I've submitted a story to you before, but I better remain anonymous on this one. Since I'm undercover in D.C. and I've always had questionable social skills, just sign me...
Frank Horrigan
