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☆ Edie Falco on Her Best TV Shows, Movies: 'the Sopranos,' 'Nurse Jackie'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

"You just don't know. I don't know. I think that's hysterical. I have made movies I still don't know if they came out. They may have come out and done very well; I just don't know.

Persons: Edie Falco, wasn't, Carmela, Falco, she's, She's, It's, Wanda, Brendan Walsh, Jackie, she'd, Pete Davidson's, Hillary Clinton, James Gandolfini, hadn't, Andrew, Furio, … I'm, would've, Michael Gandolfini, Taylor Hill, Tony, James Gandolfini's, Michael, I've, Soprano, David Chase, Jackie Falco, It'd, haven't, Pete Davidson, Joe Pesci, Pete —, Pete, Hillary Clinton Falco, Ryan Murphy, Hillary, Kamala, Walz, Edie, it's Hillary, I'm, you've Organizations: HBO, Business, Getty, Prime, Century Studios Locations: Newark, America

☆ The oldest living person in the U.S. just turned 115: 'Speak your mind and don’t hold your tongue,' she says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Last week, Houston resident Elizabeth Francis, the oldest living person in the U.S., turned 115 years old. Francis officially became the oldest living American after Edie Ceccarelli died at the age of 116 in February. Once she turned 115, she became the fourth oldest living person in the world, according to LongeviQuest. When asked for advice on how to live a long, fulfilling life, Francis said, "Speak your mind and don't hold your tongue," Ben Meyers, longevity researcher and chief executive officer at LongeviQuest, told The Washington Post. Her sister lived to 106 years old, and her father passed away when he was 99, Francis' granddaughter Ethel Harrison told TODAY.com.

Persons: Elizabeth Francis, Francis, Edie Ceccarelli, LongeviQuest, Francis said, Ben Meyers, Ethel Harrison, TODAY.com, Dorothy Williams, Harrison Organizations: Houston, Washington Post, Times Locations: U.S

☆ How ‘cat lady’ became an insult for women of a certain age
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —The stereotypical “cat lady” is one of pop culture’s most bizarre characters — and easiest punching bags. And though Vance’s description of “cat lady” didn’t include “crazy,” madness has been associated with “cat ladies” for over a century. “There is something about the independence of cats, something I like about them, which can be linked with a suspicion of independent women,” said Alice Madicott, whose book “Cat Women” prods the “crazy cat lady” stereotype. Many women proudly reclaim ‘cat lady’So-called cat ladies have been reclaiming the term for more than a century. And since Vance’s comments resurfaced this week, “childless cat lady” is now appearing on new merchandise including bumper stickers and yard signs.

Persons: Eleanor Abernathy, “ Big Edie ” Beale, She’s, Robert DeNiro, She’s …, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump’s, Sen, JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, “, ”, Harris, “ We’re, they’ve, ” Vance, Pete Buttigieg, we’ve, Harris “, Fiona Probyn, doesn’t, ” She’s, Rapsey, Vance, ’, haggard, Bastet, Corey Wrenn, Wrenn, Amir Makar, Agnes Waterhouse, Alice Madicott, untameable, Linda Rodriguez McRobbie, couldn’t, ” Rodriguez McRobbie, Havisham, Charles Dickens ’, Rodriguez McRobbie, Jane Austen, Miss Bates, “ Emma ”, Austen, spinsters, Hart Ayrault, Tom Cats, William Henry Ellam, Ken Florey, suffragettes, Big, Susan Michals, ” Michals, Women’s suffragists, suffragists Nell Richardson, Alice Burke, Michals, she’s, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zoë Kravitz, Halle Berry, Catwoman, who’s, Pfeiffer, Kravitz’s, Holly Golightly, Taylor Swift, Raymond Hall, ” Madicott, Swift, Kerstin Emhoff, Harris ’, Ella Emhoff, Jennifer Aniston, ’ —, Swifties Organizations: CNN, University of Wollongong, Democratic, University of Kent, Roman, Getty, Boston Globe, United, American Veterinary Medical Association Locations: Springfield, Australia, Egypt, Alexandria, AFP, Europe, England, “ Grey, New York, United States

☆ The Balmain dress Elle Fanning wore to the Met Gala has a long history
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For Elle Fanning, who showed up to Monday night’s Met Gala in a completely transparent Balmain gown, it was the latter. Behold: The naked dress (or in Redmayne’s case, naked suit). In 1962, Hollywood actor Carroll Baker was photographed in one of the first ever naked dresses — also designed by Balmain. Balmain just designed the 8th one.”Hollywood starlet Caroll Baker also wore one of Balmain's transparent dress designs in 1962. Her sheer Balmain dress turned heads — and generated headlines.

Persons: it’s, Elle Fanning, Fanning, Emily Ratajkowski, Kim Kardashian, Doja, Phoebe Dyvenor, Greta Lee, Eddie Redmayne, Theo Wargo, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Florence Pugh, Kendall Jenner, Charli, Charlize Theron, Iris Law, Carroll Baker, —, Baker, Pierre Balmain, “, sparkles, ”, Caroll Baker, Spencer, “ Carroll, Yves Saint Laurent didn’t, Mary Quant, Edie Sedgwick, Trevor Humphries, Baker’s, nonchalantly Organizations: CNN, Balmain, Hollywood, Dior, Hulton, New York Times, Production, Paramount, Fox, MGM, Warner Brothers Locations: Prada, Paris, London, Balmain, British, America, Europe, Hollywood, Baker’s

☆ I once dissed Journey in a concert review. Man, was I wrong
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Brandon Griggs | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This last scene in the June 2007 finale of "The Sopranos" featured almost the entirety of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." For such a massive hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’” is sort of a curious tune. A scene from the pilot episode of "Glee," where the singers did an a capella version of "Don't Stop Believin'." ‘Don’t stop believing, Jon.’”Over the past 15 years “Don’t Stop Believin’” has become a karaoke staple and a sing-along favorite. What I wrote in that review wasn’t fairIs “Don’t Stop Believin’” a good song?

Persons: CNN —, ”, Journey “, ” Oof, … Def Leppard, hadn’t, Steve Perry, David Chase, Journey’s, Tony Soprano, Carmela, Anthony Jr, Tony glanced, James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Robert Iler, “, Fox’s, Glee ”, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Amber Riley, Cory Monteith, Jenna Ushkowitz, Carin Baer, Jonathan Cain, ” Cain, ‘, Jon, ’, I’ve, It’s, it’s, Def Leppard, what’s, Neal Schon, Jeff Scott Soto, Tim Mosenfelder, Journey, Arnel Pineda, Forbes Organizations: CNN, HBO, Everett, Chicago White Sox, Century Fox, CBS News, Salt Lake Tribune, Def, Roll Hall of Fame, YouTube Locations: Salt Lake City, British, Europe, San Francisco, Meadow, Detroit, ”, Canada, Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, I’m, Salt, Mountain View California, Philippines

☆ A 114-year-old Texan is now the oldest living American. Here are 6 lifestyle choices that may have helped her stay healthy for so long.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Serafina Kenny | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She attributes her longevity to God, but her family thinks lifestyle factors play a part too. Francis also has some memory problems, but she's mentally alert and recognizes her family, Williams told TODAY.com. She told TODAY.com last summer, "It's not my secret. But her family thinks a few lifestyle factors have contributed to her living so long. Harrison told ABC13 that she has never seen her grandmother eat fast food.

Persons: Elizabeth Francis, —, William Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, couldn't, Edie Ceccarelli, Francis, Dorothy Williams, TODAY.com, Williams, Francis doesn't, Ethel Harrison, Harrison, ABC13 Organizations: Service, Washington Post Locations: United States, Louisiana, Texas

☆ 11 outlandish ways characters were written off TV shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Characters get written off TV shows for various reasons. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . These character disappearances could all be considered a "jumping the shark" moment for their shows. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Charlie, Eddie, Edie Organizations: Service, Business

☆ A Downtown Darling Says Farewell. Does It Matter?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Vanessa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Monday, Puppets and Puppets, the six-year-old New York fashion brand/art project, had its last show. She is pulling up stakes and moving to London, she told The New York Times last week. And even though Ms. Mark was nominated for a CFDA award as emerging designer of the year, the clothes were never all that good. They often fit weirdly or couldn’t really be called clothes, or didn’t seem entirely finished. Ms. Mark was trained as a fine artist, not a designer, and she was essentially learning in real time and in front of the world.

Persons: Carly Mark, Highsnobiety, Miguel Adrover, Mark, Edie Sedgwick Organizations: New York Times Locations: New York, N.Y, London

☆ Super Bowl Ads Ditch Politics for Celebs, Taylor Swift and AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Sheila Dang(Reuters) - Fans can expect celebrities and more lighthearted commercials, along with glimpses of Taylor Swift, during the Super Bowl on Sunday, as corporate advertisers avoid the recent practice of using the big game to promote social causes. While high-priced Super Bowl commercials often play for laughs in trying to make an impression, the flashy productions can also reflect the national mood. Budweiser in 2017 used the Super Bowl to depict Anheuser-Busch's founder making the journey from Germany to America in 1857, encountering xenophobia and discrimination along the way. NONPROFITS GET IN ON THE GAMEWhile corporations may steer clear of potentially divisive issues, at least two nonprofits have announced Super Bowl ads. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will air a tense anti-cheese commercial featuring actress Edie Falco and a mother cow in distress.

Persons: Sheila Dang, Taylor Swift, ”, Kim Whitler, Lionel Messi, Swift, Travis Kelce, Charles R, Taylor, “ It's, ” Taylor, Bud Light, Light Genie, Dana White, Hall, Peyton Manning, Todd Allen, Whitler, ” Whitler, Robert Kraft, Clarence B, Jones, Martin Luther King Jr, Edie Falco, Bill Berkrot Organizations: University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Procter & Gamble, Budweiser, Anheuser, Clydesdale, Super Bowl, NFL, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Chiefs, Villanova University School of Business, Swift, CBS, UFC, Hall of Fame, Google, Foundation, Combat, New England Patriots, Clarence, Animals, PETA Locations: Germany, America, Israel, Austin

☆ The 'mob wife' trend takes over after quiet luxury — and it's easier on the wallet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano seek counseling in HBO's hit television series, "The Sopranos" (Year 3). HBO | Hulton Archive | Getty ImagesQuiet luxury is out and the 'mob wife' era is in, according to Kayla Trivieri's viral TikTok video. Think: Carmela Soprano in HBO's "Sopranos," cheetah print and lots of eye liner. How we got to the 'mob wife' eraHow to achieve the 'mob wife' lookAlthough the character Carmela Soprano wasn't necessarily frugal, appropriating her style costs a lot less than the quiet luxury looks that emerged after Gwyneth Paltrow's ski accident trial last March. watch nowToday's 'mob wife' aesthetic is less about cashmere sweaters and camel-hued coats and more about bold accessories such as gold hoop earrings, a leopard print jacket or vintage fur.

Persons: James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano, Edie Falco, Carmela Soprano, Kayla Trivieri's, HBO's, Thomaï Serdari, University's, Carmela Soprano wasn't, Gwyneth Paltrow's, Paltrow, Celine, Prada, Carolyn McClanahan Organizations: HBO, University's Stern School of Business, Planning Partners Locations: New, thrifting, Jacksonville , Florida

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway audiences will soon be hearing the hit songs of Alicia Keys — not far from where the multiple-Grammy-winner grew up. “Hell's Kitchen,” the semi-autobiographical musical by the singer-songwriter, is making the move uptown from off-Broadway to the Shubert Theatre this spring. The musical features Keys’ best-known hits: “Fallin’,” “No One,” “Girl on Fire,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” and, of course, “Empire State of Mind,” as well as four new songs. “Hell's Kitchen,” in a way, is a full-circle moment for the Keys' family. In 2011, she was a co-producer of the Broadway play “Stick Fly,” for which she supplied some music.

Persons: Alicia Keys —, “, Maleah Joi Moon, Keys, ”, Kristoffer Diaz, Michael Greif, Evan Hansen, Camille A . Brown, Ali, ” Keys, Neil Diamond, ” “, Britney Spears, Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, Sting, Alanis Morissette, Dave Stewart, Edie Brickell, David Byrne, Fatboy Slim, Bono, ___ Mark Kennedy Organizations: Shubert Theatre, Associated Press, Broadway, of, New York University, Yorker, Guardian Locations: Chad, New York City, Toledo , Ohio, New York, Moulin Rouge

NEW YORK (AP) — Frances Sternhagen, the veteran character actor who won two Tony Awards and became a familiar maternal face to TV viewers later in life in such shows as “Cheers,” “ER,” “Sex and the City” and “The Closer,” has died. Sternhagen died peacefully of natural causes in her home in Washington, D.C., her son, John Carlin, said in a statement posted to Instagram. She was nominated for Tonys four other times, for starring or featured roles in "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window," "Equus," "Angel" and "Morning's at Seven." In 2013, she played Edie Falco’s mother in the off-Broadway play “The Madrid.”“I have been very fortunate,” Sternhagen told the Daily Breeze of Torrance, California, in 2002. “And I think a lot of that is because I’m considered a character actor — which really means you can do a variety of things.

Persons: — Frances Sternhagen, Tony, ” “, ”, Sternhagen, John Carlin, ” Carlin, ” Sternhagen, Neil Simon's, Edie Falco’s, I’m, —, you’re Organizations: City, Washington , D.C, Broadway, Daily Locations: Washington ,, “, Brustein's, Madrid, Torrance , California

☆ Suzanne Shepherd, ‘Goodfellas’ and ‘Sopranos’ actor, dead at 89
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Suzanne Shepherd, veteran actress known for playing the mother of Edie Falco’s Carmela Soprano on “The Sopranos,” has died. A representative for Shepherd told CNN in a statement on Sunday that the actress had died at her home in New York City on Friday. A cause of death has not yet been determined, but Shepherd had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to her representative. The film was nominated for six Oscars, with Pesci taking home a statue for his performance in a supporting role. She appeared in 20 episodes of the mob drama as the mother of Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) between 2000 and 2007.

Persons: Suzanne Shepherd, Edie Falco’s Carmela Soprano, ”, Shepherd, ” “, Aunt Tweedy, Julia Roberts, Vincent D’onofrio, Uncle Buck ”, Karen Hill, Lorraine Bracco, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta, Pesci, Mary DeAngelis, ” , Carmela Soprano, Edie Falco, Ray Abruzzo, Robert Carlyle, Jeremy Piven, Maimie McCoy, Kate Shepherd, Miles McManus, Isabelle Shepherd Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, HBO, Warner Bros, “ Locations: New York City, “

☆ All the best celebrity costumes over Halloween weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Scroll down to see some of the best celebrity costumes from Halloween 2023. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty ImagesJodie Turner-Smith opted for a bustier and printed dress as a devilish cowgirl. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty ImagesKyle MacLachlan's pickleball match appeared to have gone dangerously wrong. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty ImagesParis Hilton as Britney Spears' iconic blue flight attendant outfit from the "Toxic" music video. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

Persons: Barbie, Greta Gerwig’s, Lister, Megan Fox, Bill ”, Edward Norton, David Beckham, Britney Spears, Austin Butler, Andy Warhol, Kaia Gerber, Edie Sedgwick, Cindy Crawford, Sandy Olsson, Presley Gerber, Raoul Duke, Rande Gerber, Danny Zuko, Matt Winkelmeyer, Halsey, Bauer, Griffin, Jodie Turner, Smith, Shauna Robertson, Michael Kovac, Kelly, Kyle MacLachlan's pickleball, Max, Betty Boop, Michael Loccisano, Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Rachpoot, Kelsea Ballerini, Gilbert Carrasquillo, Lori Harvey, Lara Croft, Paris Hilton, Hilton, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Brett, Jason Oppenheim, Sabrina Carpenter Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles, Paris Hilton, Netflix, Victoria, Paris Locations: ’ New York, London, Los, Las Vegas

☆ Is the Pantyhose-as-Pants Look a Real Thing?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Vanessa Friedman | More About Vanessa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

I thought pantyhose were dead, but now it seems as if they are being treated as the equivalent of actual pants. Are we really supposed to believe the pantyhose-instead-of-pants look I see on social media is going to be a trend? The fashion world became so attached to the End of Pantyhose that editors famously went to shows in February with bare legs and high heels, snow be damned. Then, in September 2022, Matthieu Blazy of Bottega Veneta sent a navy crew neck down his runway paired with only dark hose and heels. Just a few months later, Miuccia Prada largely tossed pants and skirts out the window in her Miu Miu show, subversively matching her librarian cardigans and beatnik polo necks with sheer hose and coordinating undies.

Persons: pantyhose, — Susan, Allen Gant Sr, Matthieu Blazy, Bottega Veneta, Miuccia Prada, Miu Miu, cardigans, Prada, Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol’s, Emma Corrin Locations: Vancouver, Bottega

☆ Richard Ekstract, Magazine Publisher With Link to Warhol, Dies at 92
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Penelope Green | More About Penelope Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With Warhol's permission, Mr. Ekstract took them to a commercial printer, who made a second set of self-portraits, following Warhol’s directions given over the phone. As part of the deal, one of the portraits would appear in Mr. Ekstract’s new magazine, Tape Recording. To celebrate the magazine’s debut, Mr. Ekstract, with characteristic flair, threw a party on abandoned rail tracks underneath the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Despite ample documentation about its origins, when Mr. Simon-Whelan asked to have the work authenticated by the Warhol Foundation, his request was denied multiple times. He sued, and in 2010, after the foundation had spent $7 million in legal fees, Mr. Simon-Whelan gave up, having run out of money to continue.

Persons: Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, Hoberman, Ekstract, Joe Simon, Whelan, Simon Organizations: New York Times, Warhol Foundation

☆ Here’s what it takes to become an ‘It Girl’ today
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Diana Pearl | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Today, it’s a job in and of itself — one that, to do successfully, requires a team behind you. Richie Grainge had been working as a model for years, and was also known as the little sister of 2000s It girl Nicole Richie. Madison McGaw/BFA.com/ShutterstockGetty has all the makings of a classic It girl — famous family, beautiful looks, a distinct sense of style. “It takes a different kind of confidence to be a little more quiet and still be noticed,” said Baruch. “Even if you have the tools and are following all the calculations of what it takes to be an It girl, it still might not pop,” said Delmonte.

Persons: aren’t, they’re, Clara Bow —, it’s, Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, Bianca Jagger, Carolyn Bessette, Kennedy, Alexa Chung, Jagger, ”, Jeni Rose, That’s, Sofia Richie Grainge, she’s, Jo Malone, Richie Grainge’s nuptials, Liat Baruch, Richie Grainge’s, that’s, We’ve, Anne Hathaway, Erin Walsh, Valentino minidress, Richie Grainge, Nicole Richie, Robyn DelMonte, Ivy Getty, J, Paul Getty, Madison McGaw, Shutterstock Getty, Savannah Engel, —, “, ” Getty, Engel, Federica Parruccini, ” Parruccini, Getty, Hailey Bieber, Rose, John Springer, It’s, influencers, Baruch Organizations: The, Fashion, CNN, Cannes Film, Vogue, San, &, Cannes, Rhode Locations: South, France, Maybelline, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Savi, “

☆ Rudy Giuliani helped Purdue Pharma keep selling OxyContin. Here's the real story behind what's depicted in 'Painkiller.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Giuliani helped Purdue Pharma strike a deal with the government to keep selling the drug. Purdue Pharma hired Giuliani back in 2002, representing the first client his consulting firm ever landed, The New York Times reported in 2007. By getting Brownlee to agree to prosecute the parent company, Purdue Frederick, rather than Purdue Pharma, Giuliani and his team were also able to prevent a ban against Purdue Pharma doing future business with the federal government, which manages public health programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Veterans Administration health system, The Guardian reported. Under our settlement, Purdue Pharma would cease to exist and Knoa Pharma, a newly formed company with a public-minded mission, would emerge. The settlement would deliver over $10 billion of value for opioid crisis abatement, overdose rescue medicines, and victim compensation."

Persons: Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, — Rudy Giuliani, Sackler, OxyContin, Edie Flowers, Uzo Aduba, Patrick Radden Keefe, John Brownlee's, James Comey, Brownlee, who'd, Purdue Frederick Organizations: Netflix, Former New York City Mayor, Purdue Pharma, Service, Purdue, New, New York City, OxyContin, The New York Times, Guardian, Veterans Administration, Knoa Pharma Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York, New York City, OxyContin

☆ Microsoft keyboard users are ‘so devastated’ after discontinuation of accessories
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

He switched newspapers in 1998 and bought the newer model, the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. A study had shown that 22 out of 23 people preferred the geometry of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 over the older Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro. In 2022, he bought a Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard for his house in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and another one for when he was working at a client's office. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards From top to bottom, Matt Steinhoff's home collection includes the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard he uses every day, a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 keyboard someone gave him and his old Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, which he keeps around as a backup. The model costs $129.99 on Amazon, twice the price of the discontinued Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard.

☆ Paul Simon Confronts Death, Profoundly, on ‘Seven Psalms’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jon Pareles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Simon begins the album in his most casual tone. He’s thinking about time, love, culture, family, music, eternity and God, striving to balance skepticism and something like faith. “I have my reasons to doubt/A white light eases the pain,” Simon sings in “Your Forgiveness.” “Two billion heartbeats and out/Or does it all begin again?”Simon’s songwriting has never been particularly religious. Its refrains return to, and work variations on, the album’s opening song, “The Lord.” As in the psalms of the Bible — which, as Simon notes in “Sacred Harp,” were songs — Simon portrays the Lord in sweeping ways: wondrous and terrifying, both protector and destroyer, sometimes benign and sometimes wrathful. As his fingers sketch patterns, he latches onto melody phrases and then lets them go, teasing at pop structures but soon dissolving them.

This year, advertisers and ad agencies may well use the strike as a bargaining tool, said Erin Firneno, vice president of business intelligence for researcher Advertiser Perceptions. The writers’ strike, which has entered its third week, is also injecting a new element of uncertainty for ad buyers, at a time when television viewership is declining and the possibility of recession looms. While the TV networks have long contended with splintered viewership amid the rise of social media and streaming, the writers' strike puts content production at risk, said Rishad Tobaccowala, a former executive at advertising and public relations giant Publicis Groupe and advisor on business transformation. Last year, NBC’s upfront presentation emphasized star power as the network returned to a live event after a COVID-19-imposed hiatus. Ahead of the upfront presentations, media executives sought to reassure investors about the strike’s impact.

☆ Use the writers' strike as an opportunity to catch up on some content
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

While Hollywood deals with the first TV and movie writers’ strike in 15 years, the wealth of content that we have available to us is a good reminder of the creativity those writers have put into making the shows and movies we love. Something to sip on…Corey Mylchreest as Young King George, India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte in episode 101 of "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story." Liam Daniel/NetflixOne of the reasons the strike is even happening is because streaming has changed the entertainment industry so much that writers say their wages are being adversely affected through shorter seasons and changing distribution models. Those individuals can’t work – and some of our favorite shows will be delayed – unless writers and studios reach a new agreement soon. In the meantime, catch up on some brilliant shows you’ve missed.

Digital publishers and streamers including Roku presented new content, formats and technology at NewFronts. Photo: RokuArtificial intelligence, entertainment-industry turmoil and new ways of gauging the success of advertising loomed large at this week’s NewFronts media showcases for digital ad buyers. Presenters including Amazon, Roku and NBCUniversal’s Peacock hosted NewFronts events in New York City to show off new shows, ad formats and measurement capabilities. But this year’s NewFronts also offered a taste of what traditional TV programmers might face in two weeks at their annual upfront sales events, where major networks usually host star-laden stage shows for advertisers if the Writers Guild of America strike continues. WGA members on Tuesday picketed Peacock’s presentation in Midtown Manhattan, and actress Edie Falco chose to not introduce a new Peacock show during the event because of the strike, according to a person familiar with the situation.

☆ 'Bupkis' review: Pete Davidson is the worst part of a Peacock series about being Pete Davidson
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Give Pete Davidson a bit of credit for making himself the least interesting part of a series about being Pete Davidson. Having already played a version of himself in the Peacock movie “The King of Staten Island,” Davidson certainly doesn’t seem overly concerned about stretching his acting chops. Davidson is introduced Google-ing himself, chafing at living in the public eye while residing (uncomfortably at times, as an early sequence demonstrates) with his mom. “Bupkis” is at times very funny, but when it comes to getting to know more about Pete Davidson, the show’s admirable qualities are more in spite of that than because of it. “Bupkis” premieres May 4 on Peacock.

☆ Centenarian nun thought to be the world's oldest person dies at 118
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS — French nun Sister Andre, the world’s oldest person, passed away at 118 in France, her retirement home told Reuters on Tuesday. Lucile Randon, who took the name of Sister Andre when she joined a Catholic charitable order in 1944, survived Covid last year. She was born on Feb. 11, 1904, and was the world’s oldest living person according to the Gerontology Research Group’s (GRG) World Supercentenarian Rankings List. Earlier this month, the woman believed to be the oldest person in the United States died at the age of 115. The Gerontology Research Group reports that Hendrick’s death leaves 114-year-old Edie Ceccarelli of California as the country’s oldest living person.

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