Monday, August 6, 2007

1st Quadrant 8/13 '07

Week of August 13, 2007



“Becoming Jane”


IMDb describes the plot outline for “Becoming Jane” as “A biographical portrait of a pre-fame Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irishman.”

The Times review of the film, which includes trailers and clips, states that, “Like a modern chick-lit heroine, Jane has no interest in marrying a juiceless man, rich or poor, who has the imagination and charisma of a stick. An aspiring novelist in a rigid social order in which women of conspicuous intelligence are frowned upon, she is willing to take her chances. Jane, however, is determined to marry for love or not all.” The review further states that film, “drives home the painfully limited options facing British women of limited means in the late-18th and early-19th centuries,” and that Anne Hathaway brings, “…to the young Jane the same jittery wide-eyed intensity she displayed in “The Devil Wear Prada” along with a secure British accent.”

However, Connie Ogle of the Miami Herald describes the film as, “Ponderous, despite a couple of nice performances.”

Jane Austen's Wikipedia entry states that she was an English novelist whose work includes Pride and Prejudice among other famous works, that she is one of the most influential and honored novelist in English literature, and that she never married, and died at the age of 41.



Exxxxcellent









The Times reports that Rupert Murdoch finally bought Dow Jones & Company, publisher of The Wall Street Journal for $5 billion. The purchase makes Mr. Murdoch the owner of a $70 billion media empire that includes, “100 newspapers worldwide, satellite broadcast operations, the Fox television network, the online social networking site MySpace and many other parts.” The Times goes on to say that the purchase makes Mr. Murdoch,” the most formidable figure in business news coverage in this country, perhaps worldwide.”

According to his Wikipedia page, Charles Montgomery Burns or Mr. Burns of the “The Simpson” is the riches and most powerful citizen of Springfield, with an estimated net worth of 16.8 billion. His entry further states that, “He uses his power and wealth to do routinely what he wants without thinking of consequences or interference from the authorities. His trademark expression is the word "Excellent", muttered slowly in a low, sinister voice while tenting his fingertips,” which, according to The Approval Matrix would be more accurately spelled “Exxxxcellent.”

One can easily see the similarities between Rupert Murdoch, and Charles Montgomery Burns.



"Sent from my iPhone"










When an email is sent from an iPhone the signature, ‘Sent from my iPhone,’ is inserted at the bottom of the email. It appears to be a clever way for Apple to get free advertising for the iPhone.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog has a tutorial on how to remove, or personalize the signature.






Carnegie Hall Evictions

The Register-Guard has a story from the Associated Press on the Carnegie Hall Corporation's effort to evict its 50 tenants so it can, “expand the hall's education programs, which benefit about 115,000 children.” Jim Dwyer of the Times also writes that, “The trustees of Carnegie Hall say they need the space for educational programs, rehearsals and backstage areas.” The renovations are set to begin in 2009.

The concert hall was built in 1890 by Andrew Carnegie at the corner of 57th and Seventh Avenue. The towers were added several years later, and were once home to Marlon Brando and Leonard Bernstein. Marilyn Monroe took acting lessons there, and Lucille Ball had voice coaching. Tenants pay anywhere from several hundred dollars a month for a studio to several thousand.

The residents aren't going without a fight. "I'm not moving out! I'm going to be the last one in this building!" said the 95-year-old tenant Editta Sherman. The tenants recently won a reprieve when a judge issued a temporary restraining order barring Carnegie Hall from taking any action until the tenant's case can be heard on Sept. 17, 2007.




Old Vic Theatre


The Daily Mail reports that a group of actors, writers, and directors are trying to save the Old Vic Theatre, which is located in London, from permanently closing. The group has a, “fear that plans to rent out space for weddings and conferences when it reopens will kill off the resident Old Vic Theatre Company.”

The Old Vic, which is one of the countries oldest working theatres, opened in 1766, and helped establish the careers of Peter O'Toole and Daniel Day Lewis.

The theatre will be closed for approximately 18 months, and the refurbishment will include, “new seating, a new air cooling system, lifting of the stalls floor levels for improved stage visibility and installation of disabled lift access.” Bbc.co.uk reports that theatre needs £2m as part of a £7m redevelopment fund.




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