Scientists are about to test a theory to raise Venice 30 cms by pumping water back into the soil. The idea is to pump water down 700 metres. “We have calculated that if we pump in 18 million cubic metres of clean sea water 24 hours a day for 10 years, we will raise Venice 30 cms.” Critics aren’t so sure: “This is science fiction. It is too difficult and expensive to find out what the layers of the subsoil are really like at that depth, and raising the city would not be the same as the city subsiding; it would behave quite differently and could rise unevenly, doing untold damage.”
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Anonymous Buyer Goes Dutch (BIG Dutch) At Sotheby’s
An anonymous buyer goes on a spending binge at Sotheby’s Thursday, spending “$4.27 million for a much-watched Rembrandt portrait and another $1.87 million for a Jan Steen and a Gerrit Dou.”
Marilyn Horne Fights Cancer
Last month, Ms. Horne, 72, was immersed in preparations for the yearly festival when, as she explained recently, she was “blindsided” by the news of her illness. “I heard the words ‘pancreatic cancer’ and thought the worst, as most people do,” she said. “But I’m taking a drug that was approved just this November. It’s the latest treatment, and I have a very hopeful situation.
Pollock Owner Gives FBI Name Of Person He Says Stole Painting
The owner of a Jackson Pollock painting stolen a few months ago from Sranton’s Everhart Museum has given the FBI the name of a person he believes took the painting. “The thief or thieves who broke into the Everhart on Nov. 18 swiped two artworks: an oil by Pollock that could be worth millions of dollars and a less valuable silkscreen by Andy Warhol.”
Australian Police Seize Artwork
“Police have seized a burnt Australian flag that was displayed as part of a Footscray art exhibition in Melbourne. The move came as Prime Minister John Howard declared yesterday that while burning the Australian flag was offensive, it should not be made a criminal offence.”
Detroit Museum Sues To Keep Van Gogh
The Detroit Institute of Art “went to court Tuesday to protect what museum leaders say is its rightful ownership of an 1889 painting by van Gogh worth at least $15 million, by one estimate. The DIA took the action after failing to resolve a long-simmering dispute with the heirs of a Nazi-era Jewish collector, who claim that the painting, which has been in the DIA’s collection since 1970, belongs to the family.”
First Oprah, Now Frey’s Publisher Rebukes Author
Shortly after Oprah condemned James Frey for his misrepresentations in his bestselling “Million Little Pieces”, Frey’s publisher distances itself from the author. “It is not the policy or stance of this company that it doesn’t matter whether a book sold as nonfiction is true. Mr. Frey’s repeated representations of the book’s accuracy, through publication and promotion, assured us that everything in it was true to his recollections.”
Springer Tickets Suffer Because Of Protests
Producers of the “Jerry Springer, the Opera” tour say ticket sales are down because of protests by a Christian group. “Despite having a show which has won all the best musical awards and critical praise, I would say that it looks to me like (lobby group) Christian Voice are winning the audience battle.”
Oprah: I was Wrong To Defend Frey
“In a live broadcast of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from her studios in Chicago in which she interviewed Mr. Frey, Ms. Winfrey apologized to her audience for her call to “Larry King Live” earlier this month defending the author. Today, Ms. Winfrey, alternately fighting back tears and displaying vivid anger, berated Mr. Frey for duping her and her audience.”
W. Virginia Fights Fat With Dance
West Virginia is trying to fight an obesity problem with a popular video game “that uses ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ to boost students’ physical activity. All of the state’s 157 middle schools are expecting to get the video game, and officials hope to put it in all 753 public schools within three years. A pilot project began in 20 schools last spring.”