4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From NBC by Annie Frost
Kelli Giddish stars in Jerry Bruckheimer's new NBC drama "Chase" as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a true Texan with a sharp mind, a big heart and whose personal experience with fugitives makes her uniquely qualified to anticipate their moves and get there first.
Born and raised in Cumming, Georgia, Giddish began acting at an early age and was a staple in her high school's theater department. After high school, Giddish attended the University of Evansville in Indiana, where as a senior, she was an Irene Ryan Award finalist and was thus selected to perform at the Kennedy Center. She later graduated with honors with a degree in performance arts.
In 2005, she made her small-screen debut on "All My Children." During this time, she starred in the critically acclaimed online series "The Burg" and made a guest appearance on NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Most recently, Giddish starred in "Past Life," and made guest appearances on "Life on Mars" and "Without a Trace."
Thursday, September 30, 2010
TV Review: RUNNING WILDE
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From New York Magazine by Emily Nussbaum
Running Wilde, which debuted last night, is the most interestingly awful new sitcom pilot of the fall, if only because it involves a bunch of people so worthy of our love: The creator of Arrested Development, Mitch Hurwitz, plus two of that show's stars, Will Arnett and David Cross, as well as Felicity’s adorable Keri Russell. Sadly, this team has delivered something that is, instead, almost a model of the bad sitcom. Not the old-fashioned kind of bad sitcom, like Two and a Half Men, with the sex jokes stirred together with cornball and shtick. The modern kind of bad sitcom, with the acidic surreal jokes and the multiple flashbacks and the voice-overs and the pseudo-sophisticated political comedy.
In this case, the voice-over is via Puddle, the daughter of ecoactivist Emmy Kadubic (Russell). Puddle is mute. Yes, she’s mute! She’s a mute child delivering a voice-over. That's not a great idea, but it might work if the voice-over was witty, instead of conveying the plot, which is as follows: Do-gooder Emmy is ineffectively helping a tribe in the Amazon with her crunchy boyfriend (Cross) and an uncooperative Puddle, yet she still pines for her childhood soul mate, rich kid Steve Wilde, whom she met when her mother worked as his father's maid. As played by Arnett, adult Steve is a callow, shallow, petulant, vain, selfish richie. In other words, exactly the kind of character Arnett specializes in.
From New York Magazine by Emily Nussbaum
Running Wilde, which debuted last night, is the most interestingly awful new sitcom pilot of the fall, if only because it involves a bunch of people so worthy of our love: The creator of Arrested Development, Mitch Hurwitz, plus two of that show's stars, Will Arnett and David Cross, as well as Felicity’s adorable Keri Russell. Sadly, this team has delivered something that is, instead, almost a model of the bad sitcom. Not the old-fashioned kind of bad sitcom, like Two and a Half Men, with the sex jokes stirred together with cornball and shtick. The modern kind of bad sitcom, with the acidic surreal jokes and the multiple flashbacks and the voice-overs and the pseudo-sophisticated political comedy.
In this case, the voice-over is via Puddle, the daughter of ecoactivist Emmy Kadubic (Russell). Puddle is mute. Yes, she’s mute! She’s a mute child delivering a voice-over. That's not a great idea, but it might work if the voice-over was witty, instead of conveying the plot, which is as follows: Do-gooder Emmy is ineffectively helping a tribe in the Amazon with her crunchy boyfriend (Cross) and an uncooperative Puddle, yet she still pines for her childhood soul mate, rich kid Steve Wilde, whom she met when her mother worked as his father's maid. As played by Arnett, adult Steve is a callow, shallow, petulant, vain, selfish richie. In other words, exactly the kind of character Arnett specializes in.
NBC's 'The Event'
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From IMDB
When a man goes looking for his missing girlfriend, he stumbles upon a government conspiracy that is bigger than the president himself.
(HD) NBC's 'The Event' - Full Length Trailer // Fall 2010/2011
From IMDB
When a man goes looking for his missing girlfriend, he stumbles upon a government conspiracy that is bigger than the president himself.
(HD) NBC's 'The Event' - Full Length Trailer // Fall 2010/2011
BBC's ANIMAL CAMERA Literal Bird's Eye Footage
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
Wow, this is fascinating! This was a great idea for a show!
Wow, this is fascinating! This was a great idea for a show!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Jenny Humphrey's Absence from 'GOSSIP GIRL'
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Gossip Girl
One major character will be noticeably missing from the next season of "Gossip Girl". Jenny Humphrey, the character played by Taylor Momsen, will take a hiatus not because the actress is taking a leave but rather because the writers want so.
Per EW, a source close to The CW series confirmed that the actress will be absent for an unspecified number of episodes at the beginning of next season for "creative" reasons. The source said, "When you watch the finale. You'll see that we're doing something very big with her character."
While the synopsis of the finale is yet to come out, the clue of what leads Jennie to be an outcast may be driven from the latest promo that the network released. Fans of the show may have come to knowledge that Jenny has an eye for Nate and she is determined to sabotage his relationship with Serena. The April 26 episode could be the pivotal story that kicks Jenny off the show temporarily.
From Gossip Girl
One major character will be noticeably missing from the next season of "Gossip Girl". Jenny Humphrey, the character played by Taylor Momsen, will take a hiatus not because the actress is taking a leave but rather because the writers want so.
Per EW, a source close to The CW series confirmed that the actress will be absent for an unspecified number of episodes at the beginning of next season for "creative" reasons. The source said, "When you watch the finale. You'll see that we're doing something very big with her character."
While the synopsis of the finale is yet to come out, the clue of what leads Jennie to be an outcast may be driven from the latest promo that the network released. Fans of the show may have come to knowledge that Jenny has an eye for Nate and she is determined to sabotage his relationship with Serena. The April 26 episode could be the pivotal story that kicks Jenny off the show temporarily.
The New Museum's Chocolate Chip, Mango, & Quinoa Cookie @ the Birdbath Cafe
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From T Magazine by Charlotte Druckman
The New Museum for a preview of its latest attraction: a spruced-up cafe. As befits its offbeat location and forward-looking spirit, the New Museum teamed up with Maury Rubin of the City Bakery and its counterpart, Birdbath, Green Neighborhood Bakery — both of which are, he says, “a product of the creative mind-set of downtown New York.” As a result, he adds, “New Museum feels like perfect, symbiotic territory.”
Set toward the rear of the museum’s lobby, the cafe, which quietly opened this week, is modeled after the SoHo Birdbath, which serves signature pastries — e.g., the pretzel croissant, maple-bacon scone and classic chocolate chip cookie — and savory items.
This makes me feel HAPPY!
-N
I'm suppose to go there tonight, and if I do I'm going to try the chocolate chip, mango, and quinoa cookie and write a review. - Ibrahim
From T Magazine by Charlotte Druckman
The New Museum for a preview of its latest attraction: a spruced-up cafe. As befits its offbeat location and forward-looking spirit, the New Museum teamed up with Maury Rubin of the City Bakery and its counterpart, Birdbath, Green Neighborhood Bakery — both of which are, he says, “a product of the creative mind-set of downtown New York.” As a result, he adds, “New Museum feels like perfect, symbiotic territory.”
Set toward the rear of the museum’s lobby, the cafe, which quietly opened this week, is modeled after the SoHo Birdbath, which serves signature pastries — e.g., the pretzel croissant, maple-bacon scone and classic chocolate chip cookie — and savory items.
This makes me feel HAPPY!
-N
I'm suppose to go there tonight, and if I do I'm going to try the chocolate chip, mango, and quinoa cookie and write a review. - Ibrahim
Photos Courtesy of the New Museum
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Roundabout Theatre's BRIEF ENCOUNTER Production
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Roundabout Theatre
Brief Encounter is the breakout hit from London that transforms Noël Coward's classic tale of forbidden passion into a jaw-dropping fusion of whimsical humor, dreamy romance and stunning multimedia effects. Using elements of the beloved film and the play on which it was based, along with song and dance, this ingenious new work is adapted and directed by Emma Rice.
Sept. 10 - Dec. 5, 2010
Studio 54, 254 W 54th St
Ticket Services: 212.719.1300 PRICING: $37.00 – $127.00
From Roundabout Theatre
Brief Encounter is the breakout hit from London that transforms Noël Coward's classic tale of forbidden passion into a jaw-dropping fusion of whimsical humor, dreamy romance and stunning multimedia effects. Using elements of the beloved film and the play on which it was based, along with song and dance, this ingenious new work is adapted and directed by Emma Rice.
Sept. 10 - Dec. 5, 2010
Studio 54, 254 W 54th St
Ticket Services: 212.719.1300 PRICING: $37.00 – $127.00
20th Anniversary Oral History of GOODFELLAS
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From GQ Magazine
The Cast & Crew Of GoodFellas in Their Own Words
Visits to the ER! Brushes with the mob! The secret history of the never-made GoodFellas pasta sauce! And other audio highlights from GQ's oral history of GoodFellas.
From GQ Magazine
The Cast & Crew Of GoodFellas in Their Own Words
Visits to the ER! Brushes with the mob! The secret history of the never-made GoodFellas pasta sauce! And other audio highlights from GQ's oral history of GoodFellas.
All PARIS REVIEW Author Interviews Online
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From New York Magazine by Edith Zimmerman
Read Every Interview Ever Published in The Paris Review. The literary magazine just put its entire author-interview archive online, from the fifties to the present.
From New York Magazine by Edith Zimmerman
Read Every Interview Ever Published in The Paris Review. The literary magazine just put its entire author-interview archive online, from the fifties to the present.
WALL STREET 2's Explanation of Financial Crisis
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Amazon by Bret Fetzer
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps has the compelling backdrop of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression...so why is the movie such a dud? For one thing, director Oliver Stone doesn't bother to genuinely explore what caused the stock-market crash of 2008; instead, the movie's plot revolves around melodramatic backroom machinations and financial revenge, none of which has any real emotional heft. For another, Stone is possibly the most obvious director of all time. When the characters are talking about financial bubbles, the movie has shots of children in the park blowing bubbles; when the market crashes, the movie cuts to cascading dominoes--Stone beats every metaphor into submission, and if the audience feels bludgeoned at the same time, well, that's just too bad. Add to that portentous dialogue like "He's a monkey dancing on a razorblade," incoherent references to sub-prime mortgages and other financial technobabble, and a woefully mismatched soundtrack by David Byrne and Brian Eno, and the result is muddled, sluggish, and confusing.
From Amazon by Bret Fetzer
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps has the compelling backdrop of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression...so why is the movie such a dud? For one thing, director Oliver Stone doesn't bother to genuinely explore what caused the stock-market crash of 2008; instead, the movie's plot revolves around melodramatic backroom machinations and financial revenge, none of which has any real emotional heft. For another, Stone is possibly the most obvious director of all time. When the characters are talking about financial bubbles, the movie has shots of children in the park blowing bubbles; when the market crashes, the movie cuts to cascading dominoes--Stone beats every metaphor into submission, and if the audience feels bludgeoned at the same time, well, that's just too bad. Add to that portentous dialogue like "He's a monkey dancing on a razorblade," incoherent references to sub-prime mortgages and other financial technobabble, and a woefully mismatched soundtrack by David Byrne and Brian Eno, and the result is muddled, sluggish, and confusing.
MTA Bus Drivers Texting Behind the Wheel
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From The New York Post by TOM NAMAKO and JOE MOLLICA
An alarming number of MTA bus drivers have been issued summonses for texting, eating, and reading behind the wheel this year.
Since January 2010, a total of 178 operators were caught using cellphones while carrying passengers around city streets, MTA data show.
Also, seven drivers were cited for eating while operating a bus, and another seven were reading while driving, the MTA said.
The MTA said the drivers were reprimanded, suspended or dismissed depending on their records.
Citing a national "epidemic" of texting while driving, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "Rules banning commercial bus and truck drivers from texting on the job and restricting train operators from using cellphones and other electronic devices while in the driver's seat have been posted today."
From The New York Post by TOM NAMAKO and JOE MOLLICA
An alarming number of MTA bus drivers have been issued summonses for texting, eating, and reading behind the wheel this year.
Since January 2010, a total of 178 operators were caught using cellphones while carrying passengers around city streets, MTA data show.
Also, seven drivers were cited for eating while operating a bus, and another seven were reading while driving, the MTA said.
The MTA said the drivers were reprimanded, suspended or dismissed depending on their records.
Citing a national "epidemic" of texting while driving, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "Rules banning commercial bus and truck drivers from texting on the job and restricting train operators from using cellphones and other electronic devices while in the driver's seat have been posted today."
Monday, September 27, 2010
Senate Republicans Block Bill to End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Military.com
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked an effort to repeal the ban on gays from serving openly in the military, handing gay rights groups a defeat in their last chance any time soon to overturn the law known as "don't ask, don't tell."
Democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation, which authorized $726 billion in defense spending. The vote was 56-43.
Advocates of lifting the 17-year-old ban had been optimistic that the Democratic-controlled White House and Congress could overcome objections to repeal. Gay rights advocates now worry they have lost a crucial opportunity to change the law.
An estimated 13,000 people have been discharged under the law since its inception in 1993. Although most dismissals have resulted from gay service members outing themselves, gay rights' groups say it has been used by vindictive co-workers to drum out troops who never made their sexuality an issue.
From Military.com
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked an effort to repeal the ban on gays from serving openly in the military, handing gay rights groups a defeat in their last chance any time soon to overturn the law known as "don't ask, don't tell."
Democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation, which authorized $726 billion in defense spending. The vote was 56-43.
Advocates of lifting the 17-year-old ban had been optimistic that the Democratic-controlled White House and Congress could overcome objections to repeal. Gay rights advocates now worry they have lost a crucial opportunity to change the law.
An estimated 13,000 people have been discharged under the law since its inception in 1993. Although most dismissals have resulted from gay service members outing themselves, gay rights' groups say it has been used by vindictive co-workers to drum out troops who never made their sexuality an issue.
Glen Urquhart,"... ask them why they're Nazis."
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From The News Journal\By BETH MILLER
Republican congressional candidate Glen Urquhart on Thursday [June 3, 2010] backed away from comments he made at a GOP candidates forum in April...Urquhart says the statement was taken out of context and that he did not explain his point very well. If he could do it over, he said, he would add more historical context and explain why he rejects Hitler's take on the relationship between government and the church.
Glen Urquhart,"... ask them why they're Nazis."
From The News Journal\By BETH MILLER
Republican congressional candidate Glen Urquhart on Thursday [June 3, 2010] backed away from comments he made at a GOP candidates forum in April...Urquhart says the statement was taken out of context and that he did not explain his point very well. If he could do it over, he said, he would add more historical context and explain why he rejects Hitler's take on the relationship between government and the church.
Glen Urquhart,"... ask them why they're Nazis."
Friday, September 24, 2010
New Jersey Transit Worker Derek Fenton
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
A man who burned pages from the Quran outside a planned mosque near ground zero on Saturday has been fired from his job with NJ Transit, the agency said Wednesday.
In a statement, the agency said Derek Fenton was fired on Sept. 13 because his public actions "violated New Jersey Transit's code of ethics" and "violated his trust as a state employee."
NJ Transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett said Fenton, 39, had worked for the agency for 11 years as a train conductor and most recently as a coordinator to ensure the right number of train cars is put into service.
A man who burned pages from the Quran outside a planned mosque near ground zero on Saturday has been fired from his job with NJ Transit, the agency said Wednesday.
In a statement, the agency said Derek Fenton was fired on Sept. 13 because his public actions "violated New Jersey Transit's code of ethics" and "violated his trust as a state employee."
NJ Transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett said Fenton, 39, had worked for the agency for 11 years as a train conductor and most recently as a coordinator to ensure the right number of train cars is put into service.
MIRKASTAN by Mirka Duijn
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From The Proconsul
MIRKASTAN is a travelogue in real time made by filmmaker Mirka Duijn, gleaned from her twitter feed during a journey from Amsterdam to Tokyo via Serbia, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan (sort of), Uzbekistan, and China in the Spring of 2009.
Like the individual frames of a film, a narrative is formed by tiny flickers of text, in which each is individually significant, but which combine to create an abstracted moving image of the experience being portrayed. Plus it's funny and multilingual.
Hardcover is a limited edition of 50, signed and numbered. EUR 40 / USD 45
From The Proconsul
MIRKASTAN is a travelogue in real time made by filmmaker Mirka Duijn, gleaned from her twitter feed during a journey from Amsterdam to Tokyo via Serbia, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan (sort of), Uzbekistan, and China in the Spring of 2009.
Like the individual frames of a film, a narrative is formed by tiny flickers of text, in which each is individually significant, but which combine to create an abstracted moving image of the experience being portrayed. Plus it's funny and multilingual.
Hardcover is a limited edition of 50, signed and numbered. EUR 40 / USD 45
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Kanye's "Runaway" Artwork
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
Kanye West has unleashed an artwork for "Runaway", his new single which was debuted at the closing set of MTV Video Music Awards. The picture posted by the G.O.O.D Music rapper on Twitter features a ballerina striking a pose in a black tutu.
The picture is taken from a scene in short movie Kanye made for the Pusha T-assisted single. [The] Trailer for the film has previously been offered, including a teaser for explosive scene where the outspoken MC holds a feathered woman and carries her to safety.
Explaining the movie's concept, Kanye shared to nymag, "It's the story of a phoenix fallen to Earth, and I make her my girlfriend, and people discriminate against her and eventually she has to burn herself alive and go back to her world."
"I've been feeling the idea of the phoenix. It's been in my heart for a while. It's maybe parallel to my career. I threw a Molotov cocktail on my career last year, in a way, and I had to come back as a better person."
I really like the elegant artwork!
-N
HALF A LIFE by Darin Strauss
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Amazon
Darin Strauss’ Half a Life, the true story of how one outing in his father’s Oldsmobile resulted in the death of a classmate and the beginning of a different, darker life for the author. We follow Strauss as he explores his startling past—collision, funeral, the queasy drama of a high-stakes court case—and what starts as a personal tale of a tragic event opens into the story of how to live with a very hard fact: we can try our human best in the crucial moment, and it might not be good enough. Half a Life is a nakedly honest, ultimately hopeful examination of guilt, responsibility, and living with the past.
From Amazon
Darin Strauss’ Half a Life, the true story of how one outing in his father’s Oldsmobile resulted in the death of a classmate and the beginning of a different, darker life for the author. We follow Strauss as he explores his startling past—collision, funeral, the queasy drama of a high-stakes court case—and what starts as a personal tale of a tragic event opens into the story of how to live with a very hard fact: we can try our human best in the crucial moment, and it might not be good enough. Half a Life is a nakedly honest, ultimately hopeful examination of guilt, responsibility, and living with the past.
This past weekend I was listening to Darin on This American Life . It was a very touching story. He spoke about what it's like to live with being the cause of someone's death - despite the fact that everyone agreed that he couldn't have avoided hitting the bicyclist. Even the police stated that it wasn't his fault. -N
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Michael Zelehoski’s OBJECTHOOD at the Christina Ray Gallery
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Christina Ray
Exhibition Dates: September 09–October 10, 2010
NEW YORK – July 25, 2010 – CHRISTINA RAY is pleased to present Michael Zelehoski’s first New York solo exhibition, Objecthood. The gallery space is transformed with a series of found objects – including a picnic table and two ubiquitous police barricades – that have been disassembled and compressed into visually stunning, two-dimensional sculptures. The exhibition opens with a reception on September 9th, 7–9pm, and runs through October 10, 2010 at 30 Grand Street, New York.
Michael Zelehoski’s recent work involves the literal collapse of three-dimensional objects and structures into the two-dimensional picture plane. He begins by deconstructing the object, exploring spatial dimension as he cuts it into sometimes hundreds of abstract fragments. He then reassembles the pieces two-dimensionally and fills the negative spaces with carefully fitted pieces of wood, creating a solid plane in which the object is trapped in a parody of its former perspective.
About Michael Zelehoski
Michael Zelehoski was born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1979 and grew up in the Berkshire Hills. He attended Simon’s Rock College of Bard and completed his BA in Fine Art from the Universidad Finis Terrae, in Santiago, Chile. During this time, he apprenticed with the late Chilean sculptor Felix Maruenda.
I'm going to go see this exhibit and update the post with a review! - Ibrahim
From Christina Ray
Exhibition Dates: September 09–October 10, 2010
NEW YORK – July 25, 2010 – CHRISTINA RAY is pleased to present Michael Zelehoski’s first New York solo exhibition, Objecthood. The gallery space is transformed with a series of found objects – including a picnic table and two ubiquitous police barricades – that have been disassembled and compressed into visually stunning, two-dimensional sculptures. The exhibition opens with a reception on September 9th, 7–9pm, and runs through October 10, 2010 at 30 Grand Street, New York.
Michael Zelehoski’s recent work involves the literal collapse of three-dimensional objects and structures into the two-dimensional picture plane. He begins by deconstructing the object, exploring spatial dimension as he cuts it into sometimes hundreds of abstract fragments. He then reassembles the pieces two-dimensionally and fills the negative spaces with carefully fitted pieces of wood, creating a solid plane in which the object is trapped in a parody of its former perspective.
About Michael Zelehoski
Michael Zelehoski was born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1979 and grew up in the Berkshire Hills. He attended Simon’s Rock College of Bard and completed his BA in Fine Art from the Universidad Finis Terrae, in Santiago, Chile. During this time, he apprenticed with the late Chilean sculptor Felix Maruenda.
I'm going to go see this exhibit and update the post with a review! - Ibrahim
Taschen's NEW YORK: Portrait Of A City
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Amazon
This book presents the epic story of New York in photographs, photo-portraits, maps, and aerial views—nearly 600 pages of emotional, atmospheric images, from the mid-19th century to the present day. Supplementing this treasure trove of images are hundreds of quotations and references from relevant books, movies, shows and songs. The city's fluctuating fortunes are all represented, from the wild nights of the Jazz Age and the hedonistic disco era, to the grim days of the Depression and the devastation of 9/11 and its aftermath, as its broken-hearted but unbowed citizens picked up the pieces.
Chapter One (1850-1913) focuses on New York's dramatic emergence as America's greatest metropolis. Chapter Two (1914-1945) traces the boom of the 1920s, the Great Depression, and the construction of the city's most famous landmarks: the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center. Chapter Three (1946-1965) sees New York become the world's first truly international city, with the construction of the U.N. headquarters. In Chapter Four, the Big Apple loses its shine (1966-1987) during a period of economic decline, social protest and mean streets. Chapter Five (1988-2009) sees New York rise again from the lean times of the 1970s and early 80s, only to be devastated by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which forever alter the city's landscape—and its sense of self.
From Amazon
This book presents the epic story of New York in photographs, photo-portraits, maps, and aerial views—nearly 600 pages of emotional, atmospheric images, from the mid-19th century to the present day. Supplementing this treasure trove of images are hundreds of quotations and references from relevant books, movies, shows and songs. The city's fluctuating fortunes are all represented, from the wild nights of the Jazz Age and the hedonistic disco era, to the grim days of the Depression and the devastation of 9/11 and its aftermath, as its broken-hearted but unbowed citizens picked up the pieces.
Chapter One (1850-1913) focuses on New York's dramatic emergence as America's greatest metropolis. Chapter Two (1914-1945) traces the boom of the 1920s, the Great Depression, and the construction of the city's most famous landmarks: the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center. Chapter Three (1946-1965) sees New York become the world's first truly international city, with the construction of the U.N. headquarters. In Chapter Four, the Big Apple loses its shine (1966-1987) during a period of economic decline, social protest and mean streets. Chapter Five (1988-2009) sees New York rise again from the lean times of the 1970s and early 80s, only to be devastated by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which forever alter the city's landscape—and its sense of self.
Fish Kill is Unrelated to BP Oil Spill
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From NOLA by Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press writer
Low tide and high temperatures caused low oxygen levels that suffocated huge numbers of fish in Plaquemines Parish, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Wednesday.
Department biologists found the fish kill in Bayou Chaland had nothing to do with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Olivia Watkins said.
After the dead fish were found on Friday, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser asked for an investigation, because oil from the BP spill had affected the area.
"When the tide is low, it becomes a pool," she said. "We had a low tide and all the fish got trapped" in water less than 2 feet deep.
Hot water holds less oxygen than cold water, and heat speeds metabolisms so plants and animals need more oxygen. The fish suffocated because the water held too little oxygen to keep them alive, Watkins said.
Such fish kills are common in Louisiana's shallow waters in late summer and early fall.
From NOLA by Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press writer
Low tide and high temperatures caused low oxygen levels that suffocated huge numbers of fish in Plaquemines Parish, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Wednesday.
Department biologists found the fish kill in Bayou Chaland had nothing to do with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Olivia Watkins said.
After the dead fish were found on Friday, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser asked for an investigation, because oil from the BP spill had affected the area.
"When the tide is low, it becomes a pool," she said. "We had a low tide and all the fish got trapped" in water less than 2 feet deep.
Hot water holds less oxygen than cold water, and heat speeds metabolisms so plants and animals need more oxygen. The fish suffocated because the water held too little oxygen to keep them alive, Watkins said.
Such fish kills are common in Louisiana's shallow waters in late summer and early fall.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Civil Rights Photographer Ernest C. Withers is a FBI Agent?
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
The Sunday Morning Herald by Adrian Sainz
Civil rights movement veterans are struggling to explain the motives of a revered photographer recently unmasked as an FBI informant who spied on the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr and others even as he captured their most intimate moments. His children don't believe it's true.
This was to have been the season to honour the late Ernest C Withers for his historic work, with his photos displayed at a museum bearing his name.
All that has been overshadowed by The Commercial Appeal newspaper revealing he was an informant who regularly tipped authorities about civil rights leaders, many of whom trusted him so completely that he was allowed to sit in on their most sensitive meetings.
The Sunday Morning Herald by Adrian Sainz
Civil rights movement veterans are struggling to explain the motives of a revered photographer recently unmasked as an FBI informant who spied on the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr and others even as he captured their most intimate moments. His children don't believe it's true.
This was to have been the season to honour the late Ernest C Withers for his historic work, with his photos displayed at a museum bearing his name.
All that has been overshadowed by The Commercial Appeal newspaper revealing he was an informant who regularly tipped authorities about civil rights leaders, many of whom trusted him so completely that he was allowed to sit in on their most sensitive meetings.
Barack Obama Buys Brad Leithauser's "A Few Corrections"
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From the Guardian by Alison Flood
The US president visited the Martha's Vineyard bookshop Bunch of Grapes with his children, according to US reports, where he was given an advance copy of the much-anticipated novel [Jonathan Franzen's new novel, Freedom] by store's owners. Obama also bought Paul Harding's Pulitzer prize-winning Tinkers, about the final days of a dying man, and Brad Leithauser's novel A Few Corrections after it was recommended to him by a member of staff.
"I mentioned it to him, and I got it off the shelf and he bought it," clerk Leroy Hazelton told the Boston Herald. "It's a simple book about a man looking at an obituary, and he proceeds to examine it line by line and to investigate the truth in each line. As a result, he begins to examine the actual life of the man."
Obama's focus on fiction marks a difference from last year...Perhaps he fancied escaping to fictional worlds this year - although Franzen's tale of an American family in meltdown, and Harding's story of death from cancer and kidney failure, are hardly the cheeriest of fare.
From the Guardian by Alison Flood
The US president visited the Martha's Vineyard bookshop Bunch of Grapes with his children, according to US reports, where he was given an advance copy of the much-anticipated novel [Jonathan Franzen's new novel, Freedom] by store's owners. Obama also bought Paul Harding's Pulitzer prize-winning Tinkers, about the final days of a dying man, and Brad Leithauser's novel A Few Corrections after it was recommended to him by a member of staff.
"I mentioned it to him, and I got it off the shelf and he bought it," clerk Leroy Hazelton told the Boston Herald. "It's a simple book about a man looking at an obituary, and he proceeds to examine it line by line and to investigate the truth in each line. As a result, he begins to examine the actual life of the man."
Obama's focus on fiction marks a difference from last year...Perhaps he fancied escaping to fictional worlds this year - although Franzen's tale of an American family in meltdown, and Harding's story of death from cancer and kidney failure, are hardly the cheeriest of fare.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Robert De Niro in MACHETE
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Amazon by Paul Gaita
As a tribute to both the hyperbolic excesses of 1970s drive-in cinema and the fearsome screen persona of veteran character actor Danny Trejo, producer-writer-codirector Robert Rodriguez's Machete is, in grindhouse parlance, one mean mother. A full-length version of Rodriguez's faux "Mexsploitation" trailer in Grindhouse, Machete sketches, in the boldest strokes possible, the adventures of its titular hero (Trejo), a former federal agent turned day laborer after losing his wife and child to a katana-wielding drug lord (Steven Seagal, of all people). Recruited by shady businessman Jeff Fahey (Lost) to assassinate a rabble-rousing senator (Robert De Niro) with a particular hate vibe for immigrants, Machete soon finds himself the target of government agents, border vigilantes (led by Don Johnson!), and about half the state of Texas. Unfortunately, none seem to realize the film's central thesis: Machete's business is killing, and business is booming.
Most of the cast seems in on the joke, most notably a gleefully over-the-top De Niro...Machete is a blockbuster.
From Amazon by Paul Gaita
As a tribute to both the hyperbolic excesses of 1970s drive-in cinema and the fearsome screen persona of veteran character actor Danny Trejo, producer-writer-codirector Robert Rodriguez's Machete is, in grindhouse parlance, one mean mother. A full-length version of Rodriguez's faux "Mexsploitation" trailer in Grindhouse, Machete sketches, in the boldest strokes possible, the adventures of its titular hero (Trejo), a former federal agent turned day laborer after losing his wife and child to a katana-wielding drug lord (Steven Seagal, of all people). Recruited by shady businessman Jeff Fahey (Lost) to assassinate a rabble-rousing senator (Robert De Niro) with a particular hate vibe for immigrants, Machete soon finds himself the target of government agents, border vigilantes (led by Don Johnson!), and about half the state of Texas. Unfortunately, none seem to realize the film's central thesis: Machete's business is killing, and business is booming.
Most of the cast seems in on the joke, most notably a gleefully over-the-top De Niro...Machete is a blockbuster.
Shake Shack Employees Eating McDonalds
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From EATER by Amanda
In what looks like a real life version of that Coke Zero/Pepsi Max commercial, a group of Shake Shack employees seemed to be sampling McDonald's during family meal today. Is it just one worker's favorite? Are they doing taste tests, analyzing the packaging? Says our shutterbug, "Maybe they are admitting that the fries are better..."
From EATER by Amanda
In what looks like a real life version of that Coke Zero/Pepsi Max commercial, a group of Shake Shack employees seemed to be sampling McDonald's during family meal today. Is it just one worker's favorite? Are they doing taste tests, analyzing the packaging? Says our shutterbug, "Maybe they are admitting that the fries are better..."
Jenny Slate Fired From "Saturday Night Live"
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From The Washington Post by By Sarah Anne Hughes
Oh, Jenny Slate, we hardly knew ye. After only one season on "Saturday Night Live," Slate received the old heave-ho and will reportedly not return to the show for its 36th season. Slate was barely on the NBC gray lady long enough to make an impression on the audience beyond her sadly infamous obscenity slip during her debut. So, what went wrong for Slate? Did that one slip of the tongue do her in?"
From The Washington Post by By Sarah Anne Hughes
Oh, Jenny Slate, we hardly knew ye. After only one season on "Saturday Night Live," Slate received the old heave-ho and will reportedly not return to the show for its 36th season. Slate was barely on the NBC gray lady long enough to make an impression on the audience beyond her sadly infamous obscenity slip during her debut. So, what went wrong for Slate? Did that one slip of the tongue do her in?"
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
MTV's TEEN MOM
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From MTV
Each episode interweaves these stories revealing the wide variety of challenges young mothers can face: marriage, relationships, family support, adoption, finances, graduating high school, starting college, getting a job, and the daunting and exciting step of moving out to create their own families.
For example: Ep.205 | ‘Secrets & Lies’
Catelynn and Tyler find their high school romance back on the rocks when Catelynn reveals another lie -- and it ruins a visit to their adoption agent. Gary dresses up as a bunny for Leah on Easter, but a big fight makes Amber question their engagement.
From MTV
Each episode interweaves these stories revealing the wide variety of challenges young mothers can face: marriage, relationships, family support, adoption, finances, graduating high school, starting college, getting a job, and the daunting and exciting step of moving out to create their own families.
For example: Ep.205 | ‘Secrets & Lies’
Catelynn and Tyler find their high school romance back on the rocks when Catelynn reveals another lie -- and it ruins a visit to their adoption agent. Gary dresses up as a bunny for Leah on Easter, but a big fight makes Amber question their engagement.
The Mets' ZeErika McQueen Scores the Winning Run
3rd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Minor League Baseball
Centeno's 12th-inning double sets up McQueen's mad dash by MiLB.com staff
Juan Centeno went 3-for-5 with two doubles and his pinch-runner ZeErika McQueen scored the game-winner on a wild pitch in the 12th inning as Brooklyn beat Jamestown, 9-8, to even the New York-Penn semifinals at a game apiece Wednesday.
We weren't able to find out how ZeErika got his first name, but according to NY Future Stars he ironically changed his last name from Hall to McQueen after the 2009 season.
Full Name: ZeErika McQueen
From Minor League Baseball
Centeno's 12th-inning double sets up McQueen's mad dash by MiLB.com staff
Juan Centeno went 3-for-5 with two doubles and his pinch-runner ZeErika McQueen scored the game-winner on a wild pitch in the 12th inning as Brooklyn beat Jamestown, 9-8, to even the New York-Penn semifinals at a game apiece Wednesday.
We weren't able to find out how ZeErika got his first name, but according to NY Future Stars he ironically changed his last name from Hall to McQueen after the 2009 season.
Full Name: ZeErika McQueen
Born: 06/29/1988
Birthplace: Carthage, MS
College: East Central CC, MS
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Anna Wintour Wants Amar'e Stoudemire on Vogue Cover
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From the New York Post
Vogue editrix Anna Wintour, who put LeBron James on her cover a few years back, is now courting the Knicks' $100 million man, Amar'e Stoudemire. Wintour personally invited Stoudemire to last night's Fashion's Night Out runway show at Lincoln Center, and word is he'll join editor-at-large Hamish Bowles at the Tommy Hilfiger runway show on Sunday. "Amar'e wasn't planning on going out last night, but he changed his mind after getting the invite from Anna," said a pal of the athlete.
From the New York Post
Vogue editrix Anna Wintour, who put LeBron James on her cover a few years back, is now courting the Knicks' $100 million man, Amar'e Stoudemire. Wintour personally invited Stoudemire to last night's Fashion's Night Out runway show at Lincoln Center, and word is he'll join editor-at-large Hamish Bowles at the Tommy Hilfiger runway show on Sunday. "Amar'e wasn't planning on going out last night, but he changed his mind after getting the invite from Anna," said a pal of the athlete.
THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS by Isabel Wilkerson
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America.
Wilkerson brilliantly captures their first treacherous and exhausting cross-country trips by car and train and their new lives in colonies that grew into ghettos, as well as how they changed these cities with southern food, faith, and culture and improved them with discipline, drive, and hard work. Both a riveting microcosm and a major assessment, The Warmth of Other Suns is a bold, remarkable, and riveting work, a superb account of an “unrecognized immigration” within our own land.
I teach a unit in my history class that is partially based on this topic; so, will definately be reading this book!
In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America.
Wilkerson brilliantly captures their first treacherous and exhausting cross-country trips by car and train and their new lives in colonies that grew into ghettos, as well as how they changed these cities with southern food, faith, and culture and improved them with discipline, drive, and hard work. Both a riveting microcosm and a major assessment, The Warmth of Other Suns is a bold, remarkable, and riveting work, a superb account of an “unrecognized immigration” within our own land.
I teach a unit in my history class that is partially based on this topic; so, will definately be reading this book!
Jeffrey Goldberg Watches Dolphin Show with Castro
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From The Free Republic by Ron Radosh
By now most PJM readers have heard about or looked at Atlantic magazine correspondent Jeffrey Goldberg’s scoop of the year — his invitation to travel to Cuba and have an exclusive meeting with Fidel Castro. The dictator, it seemed, read Goldberg’s Atlantic cover story about Iran and Israel, and requested that Goldberg travel to Cuba so he could talk about the issue with him.
Of course, what Castro wanted to really accomplish was to use Goldberg as a conduit for his ideas — to let the world know his most recent thoughts and also to send a message to those considered his long-standing allies, Ahmadinejad in Iran and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. [And] Said the old revolutionary: “The Cuban model doesn’t even work for us any more.”
Finally, Castro asks Goldberg to accompany him to the Cuban dolphin show, which he does. And here he says Castro is right: it is the best dolphin show he has ever seen.
From The Free Republic by Ron Radosh
By now most PJM readers have heard about or looked at Atlantic magazine correspondent Jeffrey Goldberg’s scoop of the year — his invitation to travel to Cuba and have an exclusive meeting with Fidel Castro. The dictator, it seemed, read Goldberg’s Atlantic cover story about Iran and Israel, and requested that Goldberg travel to Cuba so he could talk about the issue with him.
Of course, what Castro wanted to really accomplish was to use Goldberg as a conduit for his ideas — to let the world know his most recent thoughts and also to send a message to those considered his long-standing allies, Ahmadinejad in Iran and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. [And] Said the old revolutionary: “The Cuban model doesn’t even work for us any more.”
Finally, Castro asks Goldberg to accompany him to the Cuban dolphin show, which he does. And here he says Castro is right: it is the best dolphin show he has ever seen.
Monday, September 13, 2010
TNR's Marty Peretz: Muslims Unworthy Of 'The Privileges Of The First Amendment'
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Huffington Post
The New Republic editor Marty Peretz said,"But, frankly, Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims. And among those Muslims led by the Imam Rauf there is hardly one who has raised a fuss about the routine and random bloodshed that defines their brotherhood. So, yes, I wonder whether I need honor these people and pretend that they are worthy of the privileges of the First Amendment which I have in my gut the sense that they will abuse."
From Huffington Post
The New Republic editor Marty Peretz said,"But, frankly, Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims. And among those Muslims led by the Imam Rauf there is hardly one who has raised a fuss about the routine and random bloodshed that defines their brotherhood. So, yes, I wonder whether I need honor these people and pretend that they are worthy of the privileges of the First Amendment which I have in my gut the sense that they will abuse."
Ryanair’s O’Leary Calls for Single-Pilot Commercial Flights
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Ainonline by Charles Alcock
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary is pushing for single-pilot commercial aircraft operations. In a September 8 interview with the Financial Times, O’Leary argued that copilots are essentially redundant in modern airliners because “the computer does most of the flying.”
“Given the sophistication of our aircraft we believe that one pilot flying can operate safely on short routes and reduce fares for all passengers.”
O’Leary argued that since regulations allow trains to operate with just one driver, the practice ought to be safe for short-haulflights .
“In 25 years with over about 10 million flights, we’ve had one pilot who suffered a heart attack in flight and he landed the plane,” he told the Financial Times, adding that flight attendants could cover for copilots, who he maintained are essentially required only to “make sure the first fella doesn’t fall asleep and knock over one of the computer controls.”
O’Leary has a track record of making what some would regard as outlandish proposals for the future of air transport, including floating a plan to charge passengers to use aircraft toilets.
From Ainonline by Charles Alcock
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary is pushing for single-pilot commercial aircraft operations. In a September 8 interview with the Financial Times, O’Leary argued that copilots are essentially redundant in modern airliners because “the computer does most of the flying.”
“Given the sophistication of our aircraft we believe that one pilot flying can operate safely on short routes and reduce fares for all passengers.”
O’Leary argued that since regulations allow trains to operate with just one driver, the practice ought to be safe for short-haul
“In 25 years with over about 10 million flights, we’ve had one pilot who suffered a heart attack in flight and he landed the plane,” he told the Financial Times, adding that flight attendants could cover for copilots, who he maintained are essentially required only to “make sure the first fella doesn’t fall asleep and knock over one of the computer controls.”
O’Leary has a track record of making what some would regard as outlandish proposals for the future of air transport, including floating a plan to charge passengers to use aircraft toilets.
Guy on White Screen Babbling About Google Instant
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
We're not sure why every tech product launch involves a guy on a white screen babbling, but here's the video of a guy from Google on a white screen babbling about the new Google Instant, which is a new search enhancement that shows results as you type.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Kanye is Santayana Compared to 50 Cent
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
George Santayana was a famous Spanish-American aphorist. His most famous quote is "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Let's compare that to one of 50 Cent's tweets,"Man I aint even feeding these hoes. A bitch want a free meal she should go to the shelter. I'm hard on a hoe cause its hard out here! Lol"
Now let's compare that to a Kanye West tweet. "I wear my scars... It's almost like I have to where a suit to juxtapose my image and I won't lie... IT WORKS!"
So, it does sound like Kanye is as deep as Santayana compared to 50 Cent.
George Santayana was a famous Spanish-American aphorist. His most famous quote is "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Let's compare that to one of 50 Cent's tweets,"Man I aint even feeding these hoes. A bitch want a free meal she should go to the shelter. I'm hard on a hoe cause its hard out here! Lol"
Now let's compare that to a Kanye West tweet. "I wear my scars... It's almost like I have to where a suit to juxtapose my image and I won't lie... IT WORKS!"
So, it does sound like Kanye is as deep as Santayana compared to 50 Cent.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
NuBod ARM SHAPER
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
• NuBod is Designed with Slender Arm Technology - Lose Inches off Your Arms
• Fashionable: Can Be Worn Anywhere - Under Your Jacket or Alone
• Flexible, Breathable & Comfortable - Can Be Worn to Work Out
• NO Exercise, No Plastic Surgery - Just Great Arms Instantly
• NuBod is Designed with Slender Arm Technology - Lose Inches off Your Arms
• Fashionable: Can Be Worn Anywhere - Under Your Jacket or Alone
• Flexible, Breathable & Comfortable - Can Be Worn to Work Out
• NO Exercise, No Plastic Surgery - Just Great Arms Instantly
Saul Austerlitz’s ANOTHER FINE MESS
3rd\SE Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Amazon
Saul Austerlitz’s Another Fine Mess is an attempt to right that wrong. Running the gamut of film history from City Lights to Knocked Up, Another Fine Mess retells the story of American film from the perspective of its unwanted stepbrother--the comedy. In 30 long chapters and 100 shorter entries, each devoted primarily to a single performer or director, Another Fine Mess retraces the steps of the American comedy film, filling in the gaps and following the connections that link Mae West to Doris Day, or W. C. Fields to Will Ferrell. The first book of its kind in more than a generation, Another Fine Mess is an eye-opening, entertaining, and enlightening tour of the American comedy, encompassing the masterpieces, the box-office smashes, and all the little-known gems in between.
"I was enrapt, argumentative, gobsmacked, amused and ready to rethink what I know about American film comedy. Crack this book open, and let the debate—and the flying pies—begin." —Glen David Gold, author, Carter Beats the Devil and Sunnyside
From Amazon
Saul Austerlitz’s Another Fine Mess is an attempt to right that wrong. Running the gamut of film history from City Lights to Knocked Up, Another Fine Mess retells the story of American film from the perspective of its unwanted stepbrother--the comedy. In 30 long chapters and 100 shorter entries, each devoted primarily to a single performer or director, Another Fine Mess retraces the steps of the American comedy film, filling in the gaps and following the connections that link Mae West to Doris Day, or W. C. Fields to Will Ferrell. The first book of its kind in more than a generation, Another Fine Mess is an eye-opening, entertaining, and enlightening tour of the American comedy, encompassing the masterpieces, the box-office smashes, and all the little-known gems in between.
"I was enrapt, argumentative, gobsmacked, amused and ready to rethink what I know about American film comedy. Crack this book open, and let the debate—and the flying pies—begin." —Glen David Gold, author, Carter Beats the Devil and Sunnyside
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Lil Wayne Backs Nadal and Clijsters in U.S. Open
3rd\SE Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Sports Illustrated by Bryan Armen Graham
When Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., (a/k/a Lil Wayne) isn’t cutting some of the freshest and most inventive music of today, the Grammy-award winning rap artist can be found watching, talking or blogging about sports. Even while serving an eight-month prison term on Rikers Island stemming from a 2007 weapons charge, Wayne finds time to opine on the latest news and release new music. We asked Wayne, who is an avid tennis fan, to share his thoughts on the upcoming U.S. Open, which begins Monday in New York. We mailed our request along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and three leafs of SI stationery … and Wayne’s thoughtful outlook for the tournament arrived in our mailbox yesterday.
From Sports Illustrated by Bryan Armen Graham
When Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., (a/k/a Lil Wayne) isn’t cutting some of the freshest and most inventive music of today, the Grammy-award winning rap artist can be found watching, talking or blogging about sports. Even while serving an eight-month prison term on Rikers Island stemming from a 2007 weapons charge, Wayne finds time to opine on the latest news and release new music. We asked Wayne, who is an avid tennis fan, to share his thoughts on the upcoming U.S. Open, which begins Monday in New York. We mailed our request along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and three leafs of SI stationery … and Wayne’s thoughtful outlook for the tournament arrived in our mailbox yesterday.
Arcade Fire and Google Maps Team Up to Create Personalized Videos
3rd\SE Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From UTNE by David Doody
On the website The Wilderness Downtown the über-indie band Arcade Fire offers fans personalized music videos, labeling them a “Chrome Experiment” that are “[m]ade with some friends from Google.” (Chrome is Google’s web browser and the site recommends that you use Chrome to get the whole experience of the video.) Visitors to the site are instructed to type the address of the home where they grew up. What ensues are a series of videos interacting with one another, personalized to the address the user put it using Google map images, as well as a page for viewers to interact with the video and write a message of their own, all set to the song "We Used To Wait" by Arcade Fire. Whether or not you’re a fan of Arcade Fire, or of Google for that matter, this is a pretty interesting step for music video. And a pretty wild ride. Get your own personalized video, or check out the video for Utne’s offices.
I typed the address to the Sephora near 86th and Lexington that Caroline Giuliani allegedly stole $100 worth of makeup from (1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix) into The Wilderness Downtown website and I made an amateur video of the video. The video shows an aerial view of the location and then intersperses the video with short street level clips of the Upper East Side location.
From UTNE by David Doody
On the website The Wilderness Downtown the über-indie band Arcade Fire offers fans personalized music videos, labeling them a “Chrome Experiment” that are “[m]ade with some friends from Google.” (Chrome is Google’s web browser and the site recommends that you use Chrome to get the whole experience of the video.) Visitors to the site are instructed to type the address of the home where they grew up. What ensues are a series of videos interacting with one another, personalized to the address the user put it using Google map images, as well as a page for viewers to interact with the video and write a message of their own, all set to the song "We Used To Wait" by Arcade Fire. Whether or not you’re a fan of Arcade Fire, or of Google for that matter, this is a pretty interesting step for music video. And a pretty wild ride. Get your own personalized video, or check out the video for Utne’s offices.
I typed the address to the Sephora near 86th and Lexington that Caroline Giuliani allegedly stole $100 worth of makeup from (1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix) into The Wilderness Downtown website and I made an amateur video of the video. The video shows an aerial view of the location and then intersperses the video with short street level clips of the Upper East Side location.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
THE ANTHOLOGY OF RAP
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Yale University Press
From the school yards of the South Bronx to the tops of the Billboard charts, rap has emerged as one of the most influential cultural forces of our time. In The Anthology of Rap, editors Adam Bradley and Andrew DuBois demonstrate that rap is also a wide-reaching and vital poetic tradition born of beats and rhymes.
This pioneering anthology brings together more than three hundred lyrics written over thirty years, from the “old school” to the “golden age” to the present day. Rather than aim for encyclopedic coverage, Bradley and DuBois render through examples the richness and diversity of rap’s poetic tradition. They feature both classic lyrics that helped define the genre, including Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s “The Message” and Eric B. & Rakim’s “Microphone Fiend,” as well as lesser-known gems like Blackalicious’s “Alphabet Aerobics” and Jean Grae’s “Hater’s Anthem.”
Available Oct 25, 2010
920 p., 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
5 b/w illus.
ISBN: 9780300141900
Cloth: $35.00
From Yale University Press
From the school yards of the South Bronx to the tops of the Billboard charts, rap has emerged as one of the most influential cultural forces of our time. In The Anthology of Rap, editors Adam Bradley and Andrew DuBois demonstrate that rap is also a wide-reaching and vital poetic tradition born of beats and rhymes.
This pioneering anthology brings together more than three hundred lyrics written over thirty years, from the “old school” to the “golden age” to the present day. Rather than aim for encyclopedic coverage, Bradley and DuBois render through examples the richness and diversity of rap’s poetic tradition. They feature both classic lyrics that helped define the genre, including Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s “The Message” and Eric B. & Rakim’s “Microphone Fiend,” as well as lesser-known gems like Blackalicious’s “Alphabet Aerobics” and Jean Grae’s “Hater’s Anthem.”
Available Oct 25, 2010
920 p., 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
5 b/w illus.
ISBN: 9780300141900
Cloth: $35.00
THE COLONY
4th\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Discovery Channel
What would you do in the wake of a global catastrophe? Even if you survived it, could you survive the aftermath?
Season Two of THE COLONY introduces viewers to a new group of volunteers with differing backgrounds, skills and personalities, to bear witness to how these colonists will survive and rebuild in a world without electricity, running water, government or outside communication. Over the course of 10 episodes, the colonists — who include a construction foreman, teacher, carpenter and auto mechanic — must work to utilize and strengthen their exploration, technology and survival skills in ways they've never had to before. THE COLONY features on-going commentary and input from experts in homeland security, engineering, psychology and the medical community, with expertise and insight into what the future could look like after a biological disaster.
Filmed on 10 acres of abandoned neighborhood on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, THE COLONY'S simulated environment had been left decimated by Hurricane Katrina, a naturally occurring disaster zone that was slated to be bulldozed and turned into a public park. Empty buildings, weedy streets and the backwoods are all the colonists have to work with as they scavenge essentials for survival from their surroundings while fending off threats such as wild animals and malicious outsiders.
THE COLONY Trailer
From Discovery Channel
What would you do in the wake of a global catastrophe? Even if you survived it, could you survive the aftermath?
Season Two of THE COLONY introduces viewers to a new group of volunteers with differing backgrounds, skills and personalities, to bear witness to how these colonists will survive and rebuild in a world without electricity, running water, government or outside communication. Over the course of 10 episodes, the colonists — who include a construction foreman, teacher, carpenter and auto mechanic — must work to utilize and strengthen their exploration, technology and survival skills in ways they've never had to before. THE COLONY features on-going commentary and input from experts in homeland security, engineering, psychology and the medical community, with expertise and insight into what the future could look like after a biological disaster.
Filmed on 10 acres of abandoned neighborhood on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, THE COLONY'S simulated environment had been left decimated by Hurricane Katrina, a naturally occurring disaster zone that was slated to be bulldozed and turned into a public park. Empty buildings, weedy streets and the backwoods are all the colonists have to work with as they scavenge essentials for survival from their surroundings while fending off threats such as wild animals and malicious outsiders.
THE COLONY Trailer
Monday, September 6, 2010
THE NEW BROOKLYN COOKBOOK
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
Filled with mouthwatering recipes, beautiful photographs, and scenes from some of the most vibrant restaurants in America today, "The New Brooklyn Cookbook" celebrates the wave of culinary energy that has transformed this thriving borough and infused its kitchens and dining rooms with passion, vigor, and big flavors. Starring the trail-blazing chefs and entrepreneurs who made it all happen, this gorgeous book helps readers recreate the signature dishes of Brooklyn in the comfort of their own kitchens. With enthusiasm and insight, husband-and-wife duo Melissa and Brendan Vaughan highlight the 'new' tastes of Brooklyn... The Vaughans also profile some of Brooklyn's best food makers and purveyors, from cheesemakers and picklers to chocolatiers and bakers, giving readers an inside look at the ingredients behind their favorite restaurant dishes and the food culture that supports their creation.
Via\Amazon
The New Brooklyn Cookbook doesn’t come out till October, but you’ll have a chance to get an early copy at the Brooklyn Kitchen on September 11, when Sean Rembold (Marlow & Sons), Frank Castronovo (Frankies Spuntino), Tom Kearney (Farm on Adderley), and Kheedim Oh (Mama O’s Kimchee) participate in a panel discussion. The $65 admission includes an early copy of the book (featuring recipes from Roberta’s, Saul, DuMont, Applewood, Al Di La, the Good Fork, and 25 others) and tastes from some of the featured restaurants. New Brooklyn Cookbook Tasting and Signing, September 11, 3PM [The Brooklyn Kitchen]
Via\Grubstreet
Filled with mouthwatering recipes, beautiful photographs, and scenes from some of the most vibrant restaurants in America today, "The New Brooklyn Cookbook" celebrates the wave of culinary energy that has transformed this thriving borough and infused its kitchens and dining rooms with passion, vigor, and big flavors. Starring the trail-blazing chefs and entrepreneurs who made it all happen, this gorgeous book helps readers recreate the signature dishes of Brooklyn in the comfort of their own kitchens. With enthusiasm and insight, husband-and-wife duo Melissa and Brendan Vaughan highlight the 'new' tastes of Brooklyn... The Vaughans also profile some of Brooklyn's best food makers and purveyors, from cheesemakers and picklers to chocolatiers and bakers, giving readers an inside look at the ingredients behind their favorite restaurant dishes and the food culture that supports their creation.
Via\Amazon
The New Brooklyn Cookbook doesn’t come out till October, but you’ll have a chance to get an early copy at the Brooklyn Kitchen on September 11, when Sean Rembold (Marlow & Sons), Frank Castronovo (Frankies Spuntino), Tom Kearney (Farm on Adderley), and Kheedim Oh (Mama O’s Kimchee) participate in a panel discussion. The $65 admission includes an early copy of the book (featuring recipes from Roberta’s, Saul, DuMont, Applewood, Al Di La, the Good Fork, and 25 others) and tastes from some of the featured restaurants. New Brooklyn Cookbook Tasting and Signing, September 11, 3PM [The Brooklyn Kitchen]
Via\Grubstreet
Freedom: A Novel by Jonathan Franzen
2nd\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Amazon Best of the Month, August 2010:
"The awful thing about life is this:" says Octave to the Marquis in Renoir's Rules of the Game. "Everyone has his reasons." That could be a motto for novelists as well, few more so than Jonathan Franzen, who seems less concerned with creating merely likeable characters than ones who are fully alive, in all their self-justifying complexity. Freedom is his fourth novel, and, yes, his first in nine years since The Corrections. Happy to say, it's very much a match for that great book, a wrenching, funny, and forgiving portrait of a Midwestern family (from St. Paul this time, rather than the fictional St. Jude). Patty and Walter Berglund find each other early: a pretty jock, focused on the court and a little lost off it, and a stolid budding lawyer, besotted with her and almost burdened by his integrity. They make a family and a life together, and, over time, slowly lose track of each other. Their stories align at times with Big Issues--among them mountaintop removal, war profiteering, and rock'n'roll--and in some ways can't be separated from them, but what you remember most are the characters, whom you grow to love the way families often love each other: not for their charm or goodness, but because they have their reasons, and you know them. --Tom Nissley
From Amazon Best of the Month, August 2010:
"The awful thing about life is this:" says Octave to the Marquis in Renoir's Rules of the Game. "Everyone has his reasons." That could be a motto for novelists as well, few more so than Jonathan Franzen, who seems less concerned with creating merely likeable characters than ones who are fully alive, in all their self-justifying complexity. Freedom is his fourth novel, and, yes, his first in nine years since The Corrections. Happy to say, it's very much a match for that great book, a wrenching, funny, and forgiving portrait of a Midwestern family (from St. Paul this time, rather than the fictional St. Jude). Patty and Walter Berglund find each other early: a pretty jock, focused on the court and a little lost off it, and a stolid budding lawyer, besotted with her and almost burdened by his integrity. They make a family and a life together, and, over time, slowly lose track of each other. Their stories align at times with Big Issues--among them mountaintop removal, war profiteering, and rock'n'roll--and in some ways can't be separated from them, but what you remember most are the characters, whom you grow to love the way families often love each other: not for their charm or goodness, but because they have their reasons, and you know them. --Tom Nissley
Microscopic Shrimp in New York's Water Supply
1st\NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
The Consumerist\By Ben Popken on August 31, 2010 4:00 PM
New York's water is ... filled with teeny-tiny shrimp. They're called copepods. They're 1-2 mm long, transparent, have two sets of antenna, and feast on mosquito larvae. What are they doing in the water supply? Well, New York's water is of such high quality that it isn't required by the EPA to mechanically filter its H2O...
The Consumerist\By Ben Popken on August 31, 2010 4:00 PM
New York's water is ... filled with teeny-tiny shrimp. They're called copepods. They're 1-2 mm long, transparent, have two sets of antenna, and feast on mosquito larvae. What are they doing in the water supply? Well, New York's water is of such high quality that it isn't required by the EPA to mechanically filter its H2O...
Friday, September 3, 2010
Google's Eric Schmidt on Cyber Past
1st\NW Quadrant: Approval Matrix
Reading this article made me think of my "Young Folly" teen spirit days. And I have to say, I'm happy Facebook and Twitter weren't around.
-N
-N
Young people may one day have to change their names in order to escape their previous online activity, Google boss Eric Schmidt has warned. Mr Schmidt told the Wall Street Journal he feared they did not understand the consequences of having so much personal information about them online.
He said: "I don't believe society understands what happens when everything is available, knowable and recorded by everyone all the time... I mean we really have to think about these things as a society."
The firm has been busy bolstering its social networking presence recently. Many believe....the search giant is about to launch another social network. Some commentators have already given the rumoured product a name: Google.me.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
And We're Back!
The novel is done, and the hiatus is over! We'll be posting slowly and selectively from the Approval Matrix until we can get back to posting the complete Matrix. I'm saying we, because I have some help; however, the person has chosen to remain anonymous and post using the pseudonym N. The first post on Eric Schmidt is coming soon.
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