Manhattan Archives - Page 28 of 69

But there was no mistaking [Justice John Paul Stevens’] basic message. “The rule announced today — that Congress must treat corporations exactly like human speakers in the political realm — represents a radical change in the law,” he said from the bench. “The court’s decision is at war with the views of generations of… Americans.” – Adam Liptak.

Fascinating article by Liptak (link above) about J. Stevens, in light of the recent Citizens Union case (I’m not necessarily going to read the 100+ pps. decision anytime soon, but the CLE that I attended at the New York State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting covered it in a pretty serious way – the impact of the decision will have on campaign financing reform remains to be seen). (plus, this year, the Annual Meeting is at the Hilton, not the Marriot Marquis; less Times Square, more Avenue of the Americas).

Fascinatingly cool item: Slate Poetry Editor/former US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky with a poem by Michelangelo about how hard it was to paint the Sistine Chapel.

Is it Friday yet? Seriously, this week is already feeling too long.

My goodness, the year is going by too fast.

I’ve been terribly busy with my National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) project. Have now hit the 50k minimum, but trying to see how I can finish this sprawling mess of a story (more like stories, considering the many storylines that are going nowhere fast). Editing this thing (should I be so crazed to do that sometime next year) will be a bit frightening, to say the least.

I enjoyed reading the cover article of the Entertainment Weekly issue of 11/27/09, where they covered the making of the Sherlock Holmes movie by Guy Richie and starring Robert Downey, Jr., and I’m totally excited to see the movie. Holmes is a guy who gets reinvented for each generation. But, my quibble to EW: your sidebar about past actors who did Holmes missed out the most memorable Holmes on tv: Jeremy Brett, who did Holmes during the 1980’s and 1990’s (until his death). He and Edward Hardwicke as Watson were my favorite Holmes and Watson (granted, they were the pair I grew up with). I withhold judgment on Downey as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson (and even Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler(!)) until I see the movie.

Coincidentally, Channel 21 (WLIW) has been airing the Brett Sherlock Holmes episodes. Watching that first season, I was shocked to see a different Watson (there was a previous actor, David Burke), since I didn’t start watching until Hardwicke was Watson, when the old PBS Mystery! series aired it.

The Time photo gallery for the Obama White House’s first State dinner is neat stuff. Plus, they get to celebrate US and Indian relations.

Belated observations of the passings of interesting people:

The passing of Judge Charles Sifton of US District Court, Eastern District of NY. I didn’t remember that he was the judge who found in favor of Mayor Bloomberg and City Council’s changing the term limits law. The obituary also had fascinating reminders of Judge Sifton’s past cases, such as his rulings in employment discrimination, and that perennial federal favorite: mafia cases. Also, I didn’t know that he was the father of Sam Sifton, the current NY Times food critic (just because they have the same last names, one never really knows) or that he was once a son-in-law of the theologian Reinhold Neibuhr.

The passing of John O’Connor, the husband of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, after his long struggle with Alzheimer’s. I think it’s fascinating that behind a very strong and powerful woman was the support of a strong and confident man.

The passing of John O’Connor, former NY Times tv critic. I thought his obituary was fascinating for how it noted that he covered tv during a time when it was The Big Three broadcast networks, and the became the beginning of what we have today – more channels. Things have really changed with tv these days, not that I’m certain that the tv industry was ever out to really entertain the audience.

Sy Syms, founder of the Syms clothing discount chain (the man behind the motto: “An educated consumer is our best customer”) – the story of how he became Sy Syms was fascinatingly described in the obituary (I’ve had to listen to that motto a lot, considering how often Syms commercials were on the 1010 WINS radio, and I work near a Syms).

Time Magazine noted the passing of Nien Cheng, whose book “Life and Death in Shanghai” Time had excerpted back in the 1980’s (which I remembered reading as extremely fascinating stuff and made me sickened about the Cultural Revolution period of China; I’m amazed that they even had the link to it for their archives, which I too link, so check it out). Angry Asian Man linked to the LA Times obituary.

It’s that time of year where people are asking for donations. Choose wisely!

This is a very interesting Facebook application, whereby Chase Bank is gathering votes on who to donate $5million (two rounds of voting, apparently). 20 votes for round 1 – so vote for your charity!