Michael Moore's "Sicko" Pirated

(CBS)  The Skinny is Joel Roberts' take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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Michael Moore advocates universal health care, but what does he think about free movies?

The controversial filmmaker will have to deal with that question after a report in Advertising Age that "Sicko," his new documentary on the failings of the U.S. health care system, has been pirated and is widely available for free downloading on the Web.

An Ad Age reporter said he was able to download and watch the film, which won't officially be released for two weeks, "with ease" last night.

Moore, who had worried that the U.S. government might try to suppress "Sicko" because of an allegedly unauthorized trip he took to Cuba, now faces "every film maker's worst marketing nightmare … how to persuade people to go to the theater to see a show that's available free on the Internet."


FEMA Wants $485M Back From Storm Victims

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says tens of tens of thousands of people received improper aid awards following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes – and now FEMA wants its money back.

According to a USA Today analysis, FEMA overpaid victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma by $485 million and the agency is now struggling to recoup the funds. So far, just $15.6 million has been recovered.

The effort to collect the overpayments has drawn protests from many in the region still trying to rebuild two years after the hurricanes. A federal judge this week ordered FEMA to stop trying to regain any funds until it provides aid recipients with better explanations of what they owe.

In a related story, USA Today also reports that National Guard units in many states are running low on equipment, raising concerns about their ability to help other states with hurricane relief efforts as they did after the 2005 Gulf Coast storms.

The paper says four years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan have left Guard units in 31 states with 60 percent or less of their authorized equipment.


The Clintons Cash Out

Bill and Hillary Clinton aren't taking any chances this time. In a move to make sure their personal finances don't become an issue in Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign, the couple is liquidating their blind trust – valued at between $5 million and $25 million – and leaving the proceeds in cash, according to reports in both The New York Times and Washington Post.

The Clintons acted after learning that the trust contained controversial investments like oil and drug companies and military contractors. The move could cost the Clintons money, since they'll have to pay "substantial amounts" in capital gains taxes and are giving up the potentially higher returns from stocks for the safer, but generally lower returns from savings accounts.

But it helps them avoid any potential conflict of interest charges during Hillary Clinton's presidential run – and steers them clear of a repeat of the Whitewater scandal that dogged them during Mr. Clinton's presidency.


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[emaginechild]

Information is power.
Download it, buy it, watch it in the theater then base your opinions about our great country.

[questionnews]

How did SlipSter01 post the same post 11 times straight without another comment in between? I usually have to wait 5 to 10 mins in between posts which allows for others to have thier say. Does he have 11 computers running?

[dangon3]

Every time theres a healthcare or whatever public service issue someone has to bring up Canada. People, understand one thing before you open your silly mouths, the only reason Canada has the services it has is due to the fact that they spend virtually zero on defense because Uncle Sam will always be there to protect its neighbors. That goes for many other countries as well. Argue what you will about the quality of healthcare here or there but imagine for a second how different our world would be if there hadn't been a US military over the last say 60 years. What an awesome nation we live in when we spend Billions or Trillions of dollars to protect Canada so they can have better healthcare, Michael Moore so that he is able to make movies bashing the healthcare industry and the rest of us so that we may be afforded the luxury of opinion on websites just like this one.

[mommajomma-2009]

hey , mikey,
your movie isnt worth pirating, let alone paying for. and if Cuba is so fricking great with their ''free'' health care, why aren't americans floating 90 miles in inner tubes to get to cubas shores?

[wadyaknow]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cm4sNMKp0Mw
Take a few minutes maryodawn and watch this.
Then you tell me how grezat things are looking through those rose-colored glasses.

[slipster01]

http://adage.com/article?article_id=117350
"One pirate link encouraged potential downloaders to view the film online saying," Watch this free copy and keep $ out of that fat f-cks hands."
"

Shows the kinda support ol' Morecheeseburgers has in the real world.

Keep ranting, libs. If his words are true, why do so many people INSIST on coming TO America for health care?

[slipster01]

http://adage.com/article?article_id=117350
"One pirate link encouraged potential downloaders to view the film online saying," Watch this free copy and keep $ out of that fat f-cks hands."
"

Shows the kinda support ol' Morecheeseburgers has in the real world.

Keep ranting, libs. If his words are true, why do so many people INSIST on coming TO America for health care?

[slipster01]

http://adage.com/article?article_id=117350
"One pirate link encouraged potential downloaders to view the film online saying," Watch this free copy and keep $ out of that fat f-cks hands."
"

Shows the kinda support ol' Morecheeseburgers has in the real world.

Keep ranting, libs. If his words are true, why do so many people INSIST on coming TO America for health care?

[maryodawn]

HMOs do not decide what health care is covered under the health care plan. The PURCHASER of the health care insurance, generally the EMPLOYER, makes these decisions, then contracts with the HMO to administer the plan which they have purchased for the EMPLOYEES. If the EMPLOYER does not want to pay for coverage for ingrown toenails and the EMPLOYEE has an ingrown toenail that the HMO won't pay to fix, it is because the purchaser of the health care plan has made that decision, NOT THE HMO.
Those who have not worked in the medical industry normally do not understand this, but it is the truth.
I have been employed by several HMOs and have yet to find one that doesn't cover heart-related ailments. Your comment ('Honest people who have ailments like his are often refused treatment by the HMOs') is just plain ignorant.

[wadyaknow]

"Why does a discussion about SICKO have to include disrespectful comments about our president? You liberal weinies use every chance you can get to insult and demean him. Why? Because you don't have anything intelligent to contribute."

Because Bush is disrespectful of our country - that is why!
*** Cheney has stolen us blind and gotten us into a war. He gets the best health care in the world. Honest people who have ailments like his are often refused treatment by the HMOs. People like you have no idea how much good Michael Moore has done and continues to do because you have not bothered to watch anything but Faux News. Thank you Michael Moore for keeping up the battle for real justice in this country.