| The CD has not left the building
This year began with good news for the beleaguered record industry. In the crucial sales week between Christmas and new year, 3m songs were legally downloaded in Britain, twice as many as in the same last gasp of 2006. But among the figures released by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) was one the digital lobby would probably prefer to have buried. Of all albums sold in 2007, less than 5% were downloads. In the albums market, digital has made barely any inroads. The media may herald the death of CDs, but consumers seem wedded to the shiny silver discs. "The media’s obsession with downloads creates the impression that there is only a digital market for music," says Matt Philips, the BPI’s director of communications. "That is not the case. Singles, certainly, have been revolutionised by legal digital services, but with albums, most people still prefer a physical product.
Jack Brod, Early Tenant of Skyscraper, Dies at 98
The Empire State Building location and the Empire name proved useful in radio advertisements. "I don't have to tell people where I am," Mr. Brod said in an interview with CNN in 1996. He witnessed history, drama and comedy at his lofty address. He spoke of bizarre attempts to moor airships to the building's 1,250-foot mast, and of the day in 1945 when a B-25 bomber crashed into the 79th floor. He liked to say he was on King Kong's greeting committee, and each year he watched the 1933 movie at least twice. He saw his rent increase 30-fold (after adjustment for greater space), the elevators become automated, and the replacement of all 6,379 windows. On at least one Valentine's Day, he gave wedding bands to couples married atop the building. For years, Mr.
Ricardo Moraes / Associated Press
Anna," about four black American soldiers stationed in Tuscany during World War II who become caught behind enemy lines (fall).
CREATURE COMFORTS: SCI-FI FANTASIES
NEW YORK is no place to be in "Cloverfield," a modestly budgeted film about a monster who destroys the city (Jan. 18). The film is produced by "Alias' " J.J. Abrams, who steps in as director to steer the 11th "Star Trek" film into space with a young crew on board. Another TV talent stepping behind the camera is "X-Files" creator Chris Carter, who makes his feature directing debut with July's untitled "X-Files" sequel, starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny.
BATTLE OF THE SEXES: ROMANTIC COMEDIES
THERE are enough romances on the horizon to keep hearts fluttering -- Patrick Dempsey realizes he loves his friend in "Made of Honor" (May 2); Ryan Reynolds is a divorcing dad in "Definitely, Maybe" (Feb.
Lost scholarships upset governor
College students who fail to maintain a "B" average shouldn't necessarily lose their lottery scholarships, Gov. Phil Bredesen said. How to spend lottery profits is expected to be one of the top issues in the General Assembly this year. Democrats favor giving students a break on grades needed to retain their HOPE lottery scholarships, and Republicans want to keep the current academic standards. .
EU faces deadline on GM food ban
In November 2007, the World Trade Organization (WTO) gave the EU an extra two months to comply with its ruling. The United States, Argentina and Canada brought the case, arguing their farmers lost money because of GM bans, and may now call for WTO sanctions. The EU has difficulty complying with the ruling, chiefly because of a ban on GM products by Austria. The European Commission says it has imposed a regulatory framework but acknowledges there are problems enforcing it. 'Protectionism' In 1998, the EU introduced a moratorium on new biotech authorisations that lasted six years. The three countries behind the complaint to the WTO argued that the ban was about protectionism rather than science. There are continuing concerns in France about the safety of GM crops.
In the world of online community, one authoritative man can dictate ...
It was still early morning when Matthew Passmore opened the door of his parents' half-broken minivan and planted his feet on the dusty floor of the New Mexico desert. A smattering of scrub brush grew up from the dirt and rocks, and a lone wooden mailbox rose out of the ground with letter stickers pasted on to form the word "CABINET." .
Britney Spears hands over children after dispute at her home
Sands spoke briefly, saying Kaplan: "feels at this time it would be inappropriate for him to speak to the media ... because of the serious nature of what we have all read about."
The attorneys are expected to return to court at 1:30 p.m. today. No legal papers requesting custody changes had been filed as of Friday morning, said Meredith Pierce, deputy public information officer for Los Angeles Superior Court.
Authorities were called to Spears' home in the 12000 block of Summit Circle about 8 p.m. Thursday after Federline's bodyguards went to her house to pick up Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, who were scheduled to return to their father's custody, authorities said.
By the time officers arrived at the home, Spears had turned over her younger son to the bodyguards but had locked herself in her bedroom/bathroom suite with Sean Preston, according to an LAPD supervisor familiar with the case.
Sam Rauch: Oberlin Grad, Williamsburg Loft-Dweller
As a total fucking cliche who attented both Trinity School (gasp!) and Oberlin College (where I majored in art history! And cinema studies! Oh no!) and who now lives in... wait for it... a bougie Williamsburg loft (for which my parents pay the rent, naturally), I must insist that you cease making fun of Oberlin immediately. Just because we're a bunch of pretentious, entitled, politically-correct, self-satisfied, bleeding-heart, postmodern burlesque and street art enthusiast douchenozzley fags doesn't mean we don't have feelings. If anything, we have far too many feelings. Feelings we have learned to express thanks to four years of professors who humored us when we raised our hands to start a sentence with "I kinda feel like..." But really. If you cut us, do we not bleed?* If you insult us, do we not cry ourselves to sleep while gently caressing our diplomas and our limited-edition Supreme hoodies? ** I cannot bear this abuse any longer.
|
