Ticking News

Jeremy Irons is known as a masterful and slightly unnerving dramatic actor who bounces between serious dramas and popcorn blockbusters. [1]

In 1994 Jeremy Irons had a cameo role in the video for Elastica’s hit single ‘Connection’. [2]

With a long-limbed elegance and the voice of a serpent crossed with an angel, Jeremy Irons has long been described as swoon fodder for the thinking woman. [3]

Irons made his screen debut in the 1980 film Nijinsky, but didn’t find true fame until the following year, when he starred in the 11-part television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. [1]

In 1990, Irons delivered another strong performance as a European aristocrat in Reversal of Fortune, and took home multiple awards including an Academy Award for Best Actor. [2]

After failed attempts to enter veterinary school, Irons decided to become an actor and received classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. [3]

He also played Humbert Humbert in Vladimir Nabokov ’s Lolita (1997, with Melanie Griffith) and starred in the 2000 movie version of Dungeons and Dragons. [1]

This very English actor began by busking, and then joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School His first break came in the musical Godspell, when he played John the Baptist alongside David Essex. [4]

He won a 1991 Oscar as best actor for his uncanny portrayal of the creepy Claus von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune and played twisted twin doctors in David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers (1988), but he’s also known for his role as Simon in Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995, starring Bruce Willis) and as the voice of the villainous Scar in Disney ’s animated hit The Lion King (1994). [1]

Irons’s first major film role came in the 1981 romantic drama The French Lieutenant’s Woman, for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. [2]

Irons made his screen debut in the 1980 film Nijinsky, but didn’t find true fame until the following year, when he starred in the 11-part television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh ’s Brideshead Revisited. [...] Tall, brooding, and impossibly well-spoken, Irons has often been cast as a haunted aristocrat, but has on occasion used his well-heeled attributes to more sinister effect, most notably in David Cronenberg ’s Dead Ringers. [3]

Jeremy John Irons (born 19 September 1948) is an English actor. [2]

Following work in a few minor films and a Tony Award for his 1984 Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard ’s The Real Thing, Irons once again struck gold with his role as a conscientious missionary in The Mission (1986), in which he starred opposite Robert De Niro and received a 1987 Golden Globe nomination for his work. [1]

In 1984, Irons made his New York debut and won a Tony Award for his Broadway performance opposite Glenn Close in The Real Thing. [2]

Sources:
[1] Jeremy Irons: Biography from Answers.com
[2] Jeremy Irons - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[3] Jeremy Irons Movies
[4] Jeremy Irons - IMDb

The controversial production of foie gras (the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened) involves force-feeding birds more food than they would eat in the wild, and more than they would voluntarily eat domestically. [1]

Foie gras (translated literally from French as “fatty liver” and pronounced ‘fwah grah’) is produced by cruel and inhumane farming practices. [2]

The liver of a goose or duck that has been hypertrophied through a fattening process called gavage. [3]

Animal rights and welfare groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Farm Sanctuary and the Humane Society of the United States contend that foie gras production methods, and force feeding in particular, consist of cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. [1]

Farm Sanctuary Applauds NYC Councilman Avella’s Proposed Resolution that Supports Ending the Cruelty of Foie Gras Production in New York State. [2]

Foie gras is one of the most popular and well-known delicacies in French cuisine and its flavour is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of a regular duck or goose liver. [4]

Its flavor is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of a regular duck or goose liver. [5]

A farm worker grabs each duck and, one by one, thrusts a metal pipe down their throats so that a mixture of corn can be forced directly into their gullets. [2]

This fattening is typically achieved through gavage (force-feeding) corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding. [5]

In addition to the footage taken at Elevages Perigord released in July of this year, this new footage documents farm employees taking part in cruel or torturous acts on animals, in addition to the inherently cruel forced feeding that the animals endure daily. [2]

P?t? de foie gras was formerly known as “Strasbourg pie” in English due to that city being a major producer of this food product. [5]

The technique of gavage dates as far back as 2500 BC, when the ancient Egyptians began keeping birds for food and deliberately fattened the birds through force-feeding. [4]

The physiological basis of foie gras production is migratory birds ‘ capacity for weight gain, particularly in the liver, in preparation for migration. [5]

Today, France is by far the largest producer and consumer of foie gras, though it is produced and consumed worldwide, particularly in other European nations, the United States, and China. [4]

The report of the European Union ’s Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare on Welfare Aspects of the Production of Foie Gras in Ducks and Geese, adopted on December 16, 1998, is an 89-page review of studies from several producing countries. [1]

Sources:
[1] Foie gras controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[2] No Foie Gras
[3] foie gras: Information from Answers.com
[4] Foie gras
[5] Foie gras - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Soul Surfer is a 2011 American drama film about the life of surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her left arm in a shark attack when she was 13 years old. [1]

Win Movie Tickets to Soul Surfer starring AnnaSophia Robb! [2]

The true story of one-armed surfer girl Bethany Hamilton keeps its balance in Soul Surfer, a kind-hearted coming-of-age drama with killer waves. [3]

Soul Surfer is a term coined in the 1960s, used to describe a surfer who surfs for the sheer pleasure of surfing. [4]

Soul Surfer is an inspirational film for the entire family about overcoming obstacles and turning tragedy into triumph. [2]

The story of surfer, shark-attack victim, and subsequent comeback surfing champion Bethany Hamilton is told in this inspirational drama from director Sean McNamara. [1]

Login to Facebook to rate this movie and see your friends’ ratings! [...] A young, teenage surfer girl summons the courage to go back into the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack. [3]

Filmed entirely in Hawaii, it offers some gorgeous cinematography and wonderful surf-action shots and features an all-star cast including Helen Hunt, Denis Quaid, Craig T Nelson and AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany, the teen titan with a heart of gold. [2]

Filming took place in Hawaii in early 2010, and Robb wore a green sleeve on her arm so visual effects could be added in post-production to create the appearance of a stump. [5]

AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, and Helen Hunt topline the cast. [1]

Based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a 13 year old competitive surfer with big dreams and a courageous spirit. [2]

AnnaSophia Robb stars as Hamilton, and Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt star as Hamilton’s parents. [5]

More recently, the phrase was used as the title of a book about Bethany Hamilton, a young female surfer who continued to surf after her arm was bitten off by a tiger shark. [4]

Soul Surfer is directed by Sean McNamara and is based on the 2004 biography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. [5]

Sources:
[1] Soul Surfer: Information from Answers.com
[2] Soul Surfer (2011) - IMDb
[3] Soul Surfer Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes
[4] Soul Surfer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[5] Soul Surfer (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Check out Rod Stewart’s rave review of his Madison Square Garden show in today’s New York Post ! [1]

Rod Stewart’s interview with Piers Morgan will air next week but you can catch a portion of the interview below. [2]

He launched his solo career in 1969 with his debut album An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down (US: The Rod Stewart Album). [3]

The Rod Stewart Album, Mercury, 1969. [4]

Check out Rod, Penny and Baby Aiden on the cover of Hello! [2]

While with The Faces Stewart signed his own record deal, and for the first half of the 1970s he released records on his own as well as with the group. [4]

With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with The Jeff Beck Group and then Faces. [3]

A London native who considers himself a Scot, his distinctive raspy vocals made him a stand-out early on in his career, especially during a brief stint with the Jeff Beck Group and then with The Small Faces (later dubbed The Faces). [4]

Stewart began listening to British and American topical folk artists such as Ewan MacColl, Alex Campbell, Woody Guthrie, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, and especially Derroll Adams and the debut album of Bob Dylan. [3]

The band’s first album with Stewart as lead singer was released in 1970, and their last show together was on October 12, 1975, at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York. [4]

FLY ME TO THE MOON…THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK VOL. [1]

His father was Scottish and had been a master builder in Leith, Edinburgh, while Elsie was English and had grown up in Upper Holloway in North London. [3]

Now less a rocker and more a crooner of ballads, Stewart’s other albums include When We Were The New Boys (1998), Human (2001) and It Had To Be You: The Great American Songbook (2002). [4]

Roderick David “Rod” Stewart, CBE (born 10 January 1945) is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. [3]

J RECORDS Design is a registered trademarks of Arista Music. [1]

Sources:
[1] Rod Stewart
[2] Rod Stewart (CA) | The Official Rod Stewart Site
[3] Rod Stewart - Wikipedia
[4] Rod Stewart: Biography from Answers.com

Red Jacket (1758-1830) supported the British during the American Revolution (1777-83) and later became a spokesman for his people in negotiations with the U.S. government. [1]

The Senecas took the British side during the American Revolution, a costly mistake, since their ally ultimately lost. [2]

Red Jacket (1758-1830) was a Seneca Tribal Commander who lent support to the British during the Revolutionary War. [1]

Some historians claim he was born near the foot of Seneca Lake at the Old Seneca Castle near Geneva, NY. [...] In 1797, Robert Morris then purchased rights to some lands west of Genesee River from the Senecas for $100,000 by the Treaty of Big Tree (now Geneseo, New York in present Livingston County). [...] Red Jacket’s famous speech, as an apologist for the Native American religion, was called Red Jacket on Religion for the White Man and the Red. [2]

According to a number of accounts, Red Jacket’s reluctance to fight was perceived as cowardice by some Iroquois war leaders such as Corn-planter and Joseph Brant. [1]

In 1792 he was heading a delegation of 50 people to Philadelphia where president George Washington presented him with a special “peace medal”, a large oval silver plate showing an image of Washington on the right hand side shaking his hand engraved upon it, below the inscription “George Washington”, “Red Jacket”, and “1792″. [2]

Although Red Jacket eventually allied himself with other Indian nations in support of the British during the American Revolution, he was originally hesitant about the affiliation. [...] Red Jacket was also a staunch opponent of Christianity and worked to prevent Iroquois conversions to Christianity. [1]

In 1794, Red Jacket was a signatory along with Cornplanter and fifty other Iroquois, of the Treaty of Canandaigua confirming peace with the United States and the earlier boundaries of 1788 the Phelps and Gorham Purchase of most of the Seneca land east of the Genesee River in western New York. [2]

He was present at treaty negotiations in 1794 and 1797 in which major portions of Seneca land in upstate New York were ceded or partitioned into smaller reservations. [1]

In his later years, he lived in Buffalo, New York. [2]

In this historical painting, Red Jacket is depicted with a large, silver medal that was given to him in 1792 by President George Washington during a diplomatic visit to the then U.S. capital at New York City. [...] He had an excellent memory and was articulate and skillful in dealing with the whites, but he was accused of cowardice by other Native American leaders in active warfare. [1]

Sources:
[1] Red Jacket: Biography from Answers.com
[2] Red Jacket - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia