Ball point pen on the morning newsprint As the world economy sinks into crisis, people are seeking refuge in the world of romance and happy endings. As newspapers and magazines continue to loose money and close their doors, sales of romance novels are once again on the rise. Harlequin Enterprises, the world's leading publisher of romance novels, reported that fourth-quarter earnings were up 32 percent over the same period last year. Donna Hayes, Harlequin's chief executive, said that sales in the first quarter of this year remain very strong. While I'm working in my studio, I always have a TV on in the background tuned to a cable news station. I just happened to be working on a commission from Harlequin when this story came over the air. I can't help having mixed feeling about this story. While I know many are suffering under this bad economy, I can't help being glad that sales are up ...
Read MoreMonthly Archives: April 2009
Ball point pen on the morning newsprint Tea anyone? Rick Santelli, CNBC's corespondent who reports from the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade, has started an upscale, affluent, white guy, white collar, populist movement of professionals, and tea parties are being organized across America. Watch the rant I too lived within my means and played by the rules. I'm upset at the state of our economy and mad at the people responsible, but I'd like to know what 8 million foreclosures would do to the assets of Santelli, myself and the rest of those making tea. ...
Read MoreBall point pen on the morning newsprint Last night Roy Williams won his second mens basketball NCAA title, coaching his North Carolina Tar Heels over Michigan State Spartans 89 -72. Williams is 3rd in all time winning percentage in the NCAA. He coached for 15 years at the University of Kansas with an 80% winning percentage before accepting the position at North Carolina. He and his teams have been to (and won at least on game in) 20 consecutive NCAA tournaments. He has been to 7 final fours, winning titles in 2005 and 2009. ...
Read MoreBall point pen on the morning newsprint Seth Rogen made news this week by saying he hates kids. Don't worry, parents won't boycott his movies, Rogen has perhaps the most valuable asset any comedian can possess: it's hard not to like him. Writers are free to mine any subject for a laugh without fearing the audience will turn on his lovable characters. A police officer who drinks on the job and abuses his power - lovable - an illegal alien, drug smoking, irresponsible, unemployed, overweight, pornographer - cute as a button. Hell, it even seems plausible that the beautiful, successful Katherine Heigl would fall for him. A trimmed down Rogen is out promoting his new movie "Observe and Report" opening this Friday. Rogen plays an obsessed mall security guard. I haven't read a review of the movie, but I already know that audiences will love him. ...
Read MoreBall point pen on the morning newsprint Nicola Barbatelli, a medieval historian, discovered a 24x17 damaged portrait of Leonardo da Vinci that experts have dated to the 16th century. Barbatelli said the painting could be a self-portrait, since the words “Pinxit Mea” are written on the back of the canvas in reverse, which was one of Leonardo's trademarks. The word Mea translates to "me", and Pinxit "was painted by". ...
Read MoreBall point pen on the morning newsprint John Arthur Johnson became the first black Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World in 1908. The controversial figure spawned the search for the "Great White Hope" to take the title away from Johnson in the ring, but it was the law that dealt the “Galveston Giant” his biggest blow. Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act for having a consensual relationship with a white woman across state lines. Now Senator John McCain and Representative Peter King are championing the champ by asking the first African American President to posthumously pardon the first African American Heavyweight Champion. ...
Read MoreBall point pen on the morning newsprint Today illustrator Larry Roibal was arrested and charged with copyright violation. Authorities have been building a case against the illustrator for posting his doodles over copyrighted newspaper articles. The raid took place at seven am this morning as the illustrator was sitting at his kitchen counter in a t-shirt and crocheted slippers, doodling on his morning paper. Arresting officers were forced to taser Roibal when a ball point pen was mistaken for a weapon. Detectives posing as workers for the Recycling Agency have been collecting evidence against the illustrator for a little over a year. Lawyers for the defendant claim the illustrator never profited from the doodles and his blog is mainly a way of saving on therapy bills as he has two children in college. ...
Read MoreBall point pen on the morning newsprint The G20 leaders meet in London this week amidst protesters. The world economy is in shambles and most agree that little will be accomplished at the summit besides grandstanding. The UK unemployment rose to levels not seen since 1971 and the Bank of England policy maker David Blanchflower called for more stimulus as Prime Minister Brown's rescue package has failed to stop the downturn....Stay tuned... ...
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