Three prominent writers (two international relations professors and a national defense correspondent) compile their lists of “what they regard as the best movies ever made about international relations,” war and diplomacy.
Author: Matthew Westphal
Comic Actor Dom DeLuise, 75, ‘A Naturally Funny Man’
“[He] created so much joy and laughter on the set that you couldn’t get your work done,” said frequent colleague Mel Brooks. “So every time I made a movie with Dom, I would plan another two days on the schedule just for laughter.”
San Francisco Opera Slices $1M From Budget
“Beginning August 1, 2009, the top five highest paid executives will receive a 5 percent pay cut; four open positions will remain vacant; S.F. Opera will suspend matching contributions to administrative employee 401(a) pension plans; all administrative employees will take one week unpaid furloughs in January 2010; staff healthcare contributions will increase; and there will be no more parking subsidies.”
The Crooks’ Archive
Two memoirs of the eponymous Mr. Ponzi – a “self-serving” one by the swindler himself and a more honest one (hitherto lost) by his erstwhile publicist – are “part of a trove of 2,200 books, manuscripts and pamphlets on swindlers and their frauds, hoaxes and confidence games acquired a year ago and recently catalogued by John Jay College of Criminal Justice.”
Australian Ballet Loses Money Even As It Makes Money
“Shrinking investments left the company with a net loss of $1,940,404[Aus] for last year, but a strong box office, successful international tour and strategic cost-cutting have enabled the company to post an operating surplus of $861,020 [Aus].”
Erich Kunzel Faces Battle With Cancer
“The 74-year-old Cincinnati Pops conductor was diagnosed on Wednesday with pancreatic, liver and colon cancer and will be undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Cincinnati. ‘It was totally unexpected, out of the deep blue sea. We got it early, but it’s still there,’ he said.”
Ill Health Eats Away At Composer John Tavener
“[I]n the past 14 months he has retreated into almost total absence from the music world as performances of his work have come and gone… [H]e still hasn’t heard [his latest] disc, unable to focus his mind or summon the energy. And, lying on a sofa with his long, thin legs crooked like a pietà (he has always looked like Jesus, on or off the Cross), he is barely able to string words together, still less write.”
The ‘Churchill Gene’ (Maybe Booze Does Make Some People More Creative)
The British prime minister said, “Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than it has taken out of me.” Debate has raged for centuries, of course, about whether alcohol aids the creative process. “Over the last few years, however, evidence has emerged that some have, if not a Churchill gene, then a creative cocktail gene.”
N.C. Company Turns Economic Downturn Into Community Fundraiser
“The recession has hit [Asheville’s] Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance. But this dance company is hitting back. For the upcoming performance of ‘The Recession Blues’ June 25-27, the dance group is offering a buy-one-get-one free voucher to anyone who gives $45 or more to several nonprofit organizations until May 29.”
‘The Oddest And Most Anachronistic’ Billboard Chart
“But as sales of CD singles have dwindled (most major labels have ceased production of CD singles altogether), the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart has become a sales log, primarily, of 12-inch maxi-singles – good old-fashioned vinyl records. […] Last week’s chart-topper was the Dallas rap crew GS Boyz’s infectious, ridiculous ‘Stanky Legg.'”