July 29, 2013 - Clearing up some of the rumors about my Twitter suspension and other issues

    Hello everyone!  Haven't blogged for a few months, but I have a few things to get off my chest.

    I was in the middle of answering some messages on Twitter on July 26th when my account was suddenly suspended.  Never had any warnings and the suspension came out of the blue.  I wasn't given a reason or told when my account would be back up.  Since then, I've written Twitter and I'm still waiting for a response on to what the issue is or when my account would be back up.  IF I did something wrong, I feel an e-mail notifying me would have been appropriate and I would have made an effort to correct the issue.

    Since my suspension I've seen a leech (don't be fooled by the panda avatar or the nice guy persona) attack my character and spread lies.  First, a little backstory as things aren't always as they seem.  This person had 83 followers before I started retweeting and recommending his account at the time.  As a result, he picked up hundreds of  "followers."  This user presented himself as a friend, posted movie tickets and I was happy to help.  However, once he got those hundreds of Twitter users to add his account, I found out he wasn't a friend at all.  A few mutual friends had told me some troubling things about him, how he would badmouth me and my account and he had also started to act differently.  Since then, he has also posted some things I certainly wouldn't want to be associated with, so I blocked his account and many of his friends a few months ago.

    You'd think someone would be a little more respectful and grateful after what I did for him, but he has taken to attacking me and my character on his account.  He claims I was doing "illegal" and "bad" things on Twitter, even going so far as tweeting to some who weren't even addressing or following him.  Twitter has some silly rules in my view (you can't block too many people for instance), but I can assure you I never did anything illegal.  I stopped talking to and promoting this account months ago and I intend on keeping it that way.  He already has a big ego and didn't want to give him what he wants (attention), but when you spread vicious lies I have to respond.  Live and learn.

    Also, saw someone on Twitter claiming to be me with a new account on Twitter.  HollywoodHelper is the only account I have on Twitter and I won't be creating a new one.  Some also thought I blocked them.  When my account was suspended on Friday, Twitter automatically removed all the people I was following and all the people who had added me.  If/when my account is reinstated all of you will be added back.

    Until I return, I'd like to recommend a few accounts other for free movie screening and premiere passes.  GetScreening.com (@GetScreeningCA on Twitter), TxtMovieClub.com and AdvanceScreenings.com (@CAScreenings on Twitter) are all great resources for local and national screenings.  90% of the screenings (probably more than my estimate) originate from these accounts.  Set up for their e-mail notification and you'll always be the first to know.  Their accounts also focus on posting great information, so you won't have to worry about being offended by inappropriate content, pictures of pandas, commentary on world events, "comedy," their sex lives, etc.  If you sign up for movie screenings it feels like bait and switch when you get the other garbage.

    I prefer keeping things fun and positive and avoiding the drama.  This time I got sucked in by the negativity.  Sorry.  Won't be addressing this person anymore.  Hope you're all doing well and I'll be able to talk to you soon!  

Update:  My account is back up and running on Twitter today!  Good to be back!     
   
    Casey

March 31, 2013 - Update on the blog and my Twitter account

I wanted to update you all on this blog and my Twitter account.  I really love posting local events, helping many of you get tickets to events and I've really come to love and care about many of you.  Your sweet messages always uplift me.

Doing the blog allows me to take my mind off some of the more difficult issues I'm dealing with and have an escape.  I've been unemployed a few years now, it's not easy finding work to begin with, let alone being out of work for a few years.  I've started to feel helpless and hopeless.  I've ran through most of my savings (no government help) and now I find myself in a very difficult situation.  There's other issues as well, some foreseen and some unforeseen.

I don't like being a downer, so I don't take joy in having to post this message.  Unfortunately, the blog and my Twitter account are both going to have to take a hiatus.  My hope is I'll be able to get the blog back up and running in a month or two.  I still have some messages that will launch reminding people of some events like Shark Lagoon Nights on Saturdays, but I probably won't be posting many (if any) new events.

Normally, I wouldn't want to post a message like this, but I didn't want to just leave without saying anything.  Many who I've come to know have really lifted my spirits with their messages and support.  Thank you all!  Hope to be back soon.

Blessings to you all,
Casey

January 14, 2013 - A pair of tickets for The Last Stand premiere tonight in Hollywood

***Update***  Congratulations to SirJauni for winning the tickets!

 I'll be giving out a pair of printable tickets to The Last Stand premiere that takes place at the Chinese Theatre at 6:30 p.m. tonight!  At 12:00 p.m. I'll tweet a simple question (spelling will count, so be accurate) and the first follower to respond will win  the tickets!  The question will be about Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie The Terminator.  Please read the rules below:

1. As silly as this sounds, if you enter please have intentions on actually attending the premiere with a guest.  Also, these are printable tickets I'll e-mail you, so you're going to need a printer.
2. The winner should arrive a few hours early.  These tickets don't guarantee entry, so it's very important that the winner and their guest arrive early.  I'd recommend arriving at 3:30 p.m. or earlier.  If you're the first people there, there's plenty of things to do at the Hollywood & Highland Center to kill time till people start lining up.  If you're planning on arriving at 6:30 p.m., I'd almost guarantee you won't make it in.
3. Since this is a red carpet premiere, you're asked to dress to impress.  No jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sandals, etc.  I'd recommend business casual.
4. Usually, the line starts next to Madame Tussauds Hollywood. 

The Chinese Theatre is located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard and directions can be found here.  You can park at Hollywood & Highland Center for 4 hours for $2.00 after validation (which you can get at the information booth without having to purchase anything).   

Good luck, everyone!  Wish I had tickets for all of you!  

January 4, 2013 - Enter to win tickets to attend the Struck by Lightning premiere on 1/6 in Hollywood

Struck by Lightning premieres on Sunday at the Chinese 6 Theatres at the Hollywood & Highland Center!  I'll e-mail a pair of printable tickets to to the winner of the contest (please read the rules below).  The cast and filmmakers will begin arriving at 4:00 p.m.  In addition to the stars from the movie being in attendance, writer/star Chris Colfer will be doing a question and answer session following the movie!

Twitter followers please enter your user name below.  In the past, some have had issues entering their user names, if you do, just tweet me and ask to be entered in the contest.  On Saturday at 10:00 p.m. I'll enter all your names at Random.org, a winner will be picked and I'll notify the winner.  Since this is a time sensitive contest, the winner will have 20 minutes to send me their e-mail address.  If I the winner doesn't contact me in 20 minutes, I'll move to the next person on the list until a winner is found.  Before you enter, please make sure you can follow these rules:

1. Please make sure you and your guest both actually intend on attending.  If there are any issues after you win the tickets, please contact me so I can give the tickets to someone else.
2.  The premiere is taking place at the smaller Chinese 6 Theatres multiplex upstairs.  These tickets don't guarantee entry, so it's very important the winner and their guest arrive early.  I'd recommend arriving around 1:00 or 2:00 p.m.  If you're the first people there, there's plenty of things to do at the Hollywood & Highland Center to kill time till people start lining up.  If you're planning on arriving at 4:00 p.m., I'd almost guarantee you won't make it in.
3. Since this is a premiere, you're asked to dress to impress.  I'd recommend business casual.  

Chinese 6 Theatres is located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard and directions can be found here.  You can park at Hollywood & Highland Center for 4 hours for $2.00 after validation.

Thanks for reading and good luck, everyone! 

***Update***  Congratulations to Aqua-chan for winning the tickets!  Thanks to everyone for participating...wish I had a pair of tickets for all of you!  Here's the results:

There were 52 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. @aquarius423
2. @harleymegido
3. @uhhleezayy
4. @obamaniqua69
5. @keiracho5
6. @ChristianaLove
7. @morgytoy
8. @helenbrinidish
9. @msmirandak
10. @musicgirla
11. @HaydenRodgers
12. @Jackie_mae27
13. @ice_flow12
14. @TwiBetween
15. @chocogirl516
16. @Larosh713
17. @markjosef
18. @alexisdenae
19. @MichyGeary
20. @ryanvalle
21. @MickeeDG
22. @JenAlwaysTweets
23. @fuckingYADIRA_
24. @kurtblaine_
25. @mcvogue
26. @LydiaTreminio
27. @ANAAA_bells
28. @msandirios
29. @bizingajess
30. @kobean
31. @emmilyyann
32. @forever_inforks
33. @StephiieeBoo1
34. @charissahill
35. @joshuaeliano
36. @el_tardo
37. @alexa21737
38. @TheRealMargie
39. @laurmander
40. @wishiwerebella
41. @drummerskye
42. @feesha724
43. @outlandogirl
44. @YoureNotLaura
45. @serenalee18
46. @xoAlexanaxo
47. @vanb8hoven
48. @MiaTurner
49. @Danimalz_21
50. @carolr3d
51. @syzkokidd
52. @untoldfairytale

October 24, 2012 - Thank you

Yesterday, this blog celebrated its 1 year anniversary.  I started this blog in order to post events that might be of interest to locals and visitors and also to try and stay productive while being out of work.  I'm obviously not a writer and should have paid closer attention in school, but this blog and my Twitter account have far exceeded my expectations as far as views and followers.  As I type this message, there have been 110,222 views for this blog and 18,127 followers on Twitter.

I want to thank all of you!  Thank you for your support, visits, retweets and kind messages that always lift my spirits.  I've met some kind folks, many of which I consider friends.  I don't like to dwell on the negative, but your messages and friendship mean a lot to me, as it's often easy to lose hope.

As silly as this is, it takes up a lot of time.  If I'm ever employed again, it might be difficult to find time to post events, but I'd like to always continue blogging and tweeting in some capacity.  Thanks again, everyone!  Love and appreciation for all of you.

   All the best,
   Casey