Daily Freeman Life Editor Ivan Lajara talks about journalism, living in the Hudson Valley, language, the Web, cats and even politics. But he shouldn't.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

High-definition Lincoln

This image released by George Eastman House is a conserved broken glass-plate interpositive of Abraham Lincoln, taken by Alexander Hesler at the Illinois state Capitol in Springfield on June 3, 1860. George Eastman House International Museum of Photography & Film conserved the glass-plate interpositive, which was used to make copy prints following Lincoln's death. The interpositive is owned by an anonymous collector. (AP Photo/Courtesy George Eastman House)

I'm totally making a small version of this monstrosity on Sunday (I may even add some cheese) just to anger my veggie-inclined friends, who'll have to content themselves with uncooked broccoli and my special take on a Virgin Mary (vegetable juice).

What's in a name?

A paper to be published in March in Social Sciences Journal by economists David E. Kalist and Daniel Y. Lee of Shippensburg University found that unpopular first names can increase the tendency toward juvenile delinquency, as reported by Live Science.

The caveat is that the name has to be mixed with factors like a disadvantaged home life, which I had the fortune of not having, since my name is one of those the study picked as having the biggest chance of creating a criminal.

Oscar nods in Ulster County

Stone Ridge actress Melissa Leo received a best actress Oscar nomination this morning for her role in "Frozen River," a film by Chatham director-writer Courtney Hunt.Freeman reporter Bonnie Langston is talking to her as I type this.

Leo is in Park City, Utah, promoting"Predisposed" a film by West Hurley West native Philip Dorling, at the Sundance Film Festival. Dorling directed the film and co-wrote it with his mentor, Ulster County resident Ron Nyswaner, who wrote the screenplay for the Tom Hanks film “Philadelphia.” Nyswaner received an Oscar nod then for that screenplay.

Also of note, the Academy nominated “Man on Wire” for documentary feature. The film is about French artist and Shokan resident Philippe Petit, who in 1974 walked across a wire that had been strung illegally between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The documentary by British director James Marsh was partially shot in Ulster County.

Finalists

* the craptalicious suffix "-licious," which apparently can be attached to anything;

* "PUMA," via angry Hillraisers after the Democratic primary. It stands for "Party Unity My Ass," which is fitting because the Democrats are represented by the ass (though I have a feeling that's not what they were referring to). "Hillraisers" was now among the finalists; and

"Man on Wire" is Critics' Choice

The Critic's Choice Award for best documentary was given just now to "Man on Wire" about French artist and Shokan resident Philippe Petit, who in 1974 walked across a wire that had been strung illegally between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The documentary by British director James Marsh was partially shot in Ulster County.

The award was presented by neighbor Melissa Leo of Accord, who's up for best actress.