Jessica! I know - he doesn't seem to realize that this isn't his show -- that he's a hired hand.

You worked Blockbuster, didn't you?

Yep. A company, I might add, that paid a male employee hired on the same day as I, 75 cents more per hour, though he had no retail experience and we had the same title. When I found out and complained, they raised my salary and issued a memo saying that it was against store policy to discuss our paychecks.

Blockbuster should go down in flames.

Okay, I'm very big on the idea of becoming an "autuer" director, but even I know you need to earn it.

but even I know you need to earn it.

Or pay for your own films, which is what he's been doing up until now. If it's your money, it's your show.

Someone else's money means it's their movie and you work for them.

Hey, we're under a tornado watch!

I think it's our first of the season.

A friend of mine (graduated with me from the MBA program last year) is managing a Blockbuster. I feel bad for her, and all her co-workers, though she hasn't been complaining about the "No Late Fees" thing specifically.

becoming an "autuer" director

making movies about murder?

Jessica, I actually thought that he was doing better. I mean, he made great strides of improvement since his turn last week as Mute Boy. If he would just let this casting issue go, or even just pick ONE family member to fight for, things would go a lot smoother. He seems to have a lot of people on his side supporting him but he just has such tunnel vision on this.

ETA: And I do think he has less power as a contest winner than he would as a first time director. The ghost of trainwrecks past is not his friend.

Blockbuster should go down in flames.

Amen. I worked there part-time soon after I started working for my current company (pay started at $20K in my first position--it's much better now). Since I was already 26, they didn't have to worry about the local curfew for me so I was always scheduled to close the store. I didn't mind it so much on the weekends, but since I had to be at the full-time job at 7:30 a.m., I didn't really like staying until almost 1:00 in the morning to clean up. I did it for one summer/fall and then cut back to weekends only in the winter, but when I needed more hours the following summer, I told them I didn't want to work past 10:00 pm on weekdays. They didn't give me the option, but told me I was required to, so I quit.

Between the inflexible hours, sucky customers (I was called "bitch" to my face by people living in million dollar houses in Lake Forest because I wouldn't let them get out of paying their $2 overdue fees), and the constant exhaustion, I was glad to leave.

So, if I understand it correctly, what T.S.'s parents are now asking is for the federal courts to determine that the state courts wrongly interpreted state law?

My understanding of this particular action is petitioning the federal appeals court to review the (federal) district court decision to see if the district court violated federal precedent w/r/t its review of the state court's record. It seems to be a highly technical appeal, but I can see why they would allow them to appeal on this point.

But to answer your question more thoroughly, in their federal filings they say the state court violated Terri's constitutional rights to due process and equal protection (I think) in its decisions.