Michael Uslan, Originator and Executive Producer of the Batman film franchise, joined industry giants Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and Charles Schultz when he received Comic-Con International's highest honor: the Inkpot Award.

The award recognizes lifetime achievement in the comic book and film arts industries. It came as a surprise, says Uslan, who was presented it during the recent San Diego Comic-Con International, the largest such event in the world.

"I am beyond thrilled!" he says. "I did not know that I was to be awarded with The Inkpot, and to be included with so many of the industry's heroes is truly humbling. I particularly want to congratulate my fellow 2012 winners!"

In a manner of speaking, Uslan grew up in the Gotham Universe and, since childhood, his dream was to have the world see his favorite superhero as he saw him. Despite many obstacles, Uslan held fast to his dreams as he methodically worked toward his goal, including teaching the first accredited college course on comic book folklore in 1972 and earning his law degree four years later.

His journey is documented in his new memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman (www.theboywholovedbatman.com).

"I was just a kid from the suburbs who loved comic books, but I had a dream and I wasn't going to stop till I made it come true," he says.

Now busy leading the charge on what may be the most critically-acclaimed comic-book movie to date, The Dark Knight Rises, Uslan was featured this week on The CW Television Network special "The Batmobile."

The Dark Knight Rises, the third movie in the Batman trilogy, opens July 20.

About Michael Uslan

Michael Uslan (www.theuslancompany.com) is the Originator, and Executive Producer, along with his partner Benjamin Melniker, of the Batman franchise of motion pictures. In his 36 years in the film and television industry, he has been involved with projects such as "National Treasure," "Constantine," and countless animated films. His work has earned Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. An authority on comic book history, he is the author of several books including his autobiography, "The Boy Who Loved Batman,'' now in bookstores and at amazon.com.

In a video message released to ATF staff on July 9, 2012, ATF Acting Director Todd Jones says, "... if you make poor choices, that if you don't abide by the rules, that if you don't respect the chain of command, if you don't find the appropriate way to raise your concerns to your leadership, there will be consequences. ..."

Grassley and Issa wrote to Jones, stating that the essence of whistleblowing is reporting problems outside of an employee's chain of command, and whistleblowers were instrumental in exposing the shortcomings of the government's botched gun-walking operation, Fast and Furious.  Grassley and Issa wrote to Jones, "Your ominous message - which could be interpreted as a threat - is likely to have a major chilling effect on ATF employees exercising their rights to contact Congress.  Therefore, it needs to be clarified."

Grassley and Issa also wrote, "On numerous occasions, we have stressed to ATF and the Department of Justice the importance of protecting whistleblower disclosures and preventing retaliation against whistleblowers."

The context for Jones' remarks and the intent behind them are unclear.  Grassley and Issa asked for a response by July 25.  The text of their letter is available here.  The video is available here.

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Grassley said the Obama administration should have been pushing for greater reductions to non-tariff trade barriers on agricultural products, including reaching a separate, bilateral agreement on SPS standards, when negotiating the Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) accession package.

"The administration missed an important opportunity during accession discussions to demand a separate SPS equivalence agreement," he said.  "I appreciate that Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Hatch supported my effort to include my sanitary and phytosanitary provisions in the bill that the committee approved today.  The lesson of the U.S. experience with China on these issues is that you cannot assume anything, and an aggressive approach is needed for science-based standards."

In a June letter to President Obama, Grassley and 33 other senators said, "If we are not able to adequately address the SPS issues, it will undermine the commitments obtained [from Russia] on tariffs and quotas."

Last year, U.S. beef, pork and poultry exports collectively ranked second only to aircraft engines in total U.S. export value to Russia.

In addition to requiring a continued effort by USTR to secure a bilateral agreement on SPS standards, the Finance Committee-approved PNTR bill also would require USTR to annually report to Congress on Russia's implementation of the SPS requirements that are set forth in the WTO accession agreement with regard to U.S. agricultural products.

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