Strike Update: Duelling Spin

It's 8:30 or so, Pacific Standard Time, and - no deal. No strike. No nothing. What we have, instead, are duelling press releases. The studios have released their "final offer," -- "a final hope for avoiding further work stoppages and getting everyone back to work." You betcha. Their offer is a package worth a whopping $250 million in new compensation to SAG members (this will buy one Spiderman sequel, and not more), "with significant economic gains and groundbreaking new media rights for all performers." Will you be surprised to hear that SAG disagrees? On its site, the guild neither accepts nor rejects this offer, but promises its members to "continue to stand strong and work hard to negotiate a fair contract for all actors." That doesn't sound like progress. But everyone is urged to show up to work on Tuesday under the expired contract. The protagonists promise to meet on Wednesday, to bargain some more. Sigh. It's going to be a long, long summer.