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Make Me Famous and Other Things People Want From Art

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

In the fascinating art-world documentary Make Me Famous, painter Edward Brezinski finally gets his wish. Although he died — probably — in 2007, Brezinski’s largely unrealized goal in his lifetime was to be a successful artist. Even his mysterious death, in the South of France, didn’t raise his profile or prices — as it has for others and as perhaps he hoped it would do for him. Unclear. But this film succeeds where the artist failed, turning his life and art into the main attraction, with enough conviction to ensure he’ll be more than a footnote in art history.Edward Brezinski and CLICK models for NY TALK Magazine, 1984. Photograph ©Jonathan Postal; from “Make Me Famous”The most press Brezinski ever got was when he ate a resin-coated donut sculpture by Robert Gober, at Paula Cooper Gallery. This made Cooper mad; Gober tried to warn him about the toxic coating but otherwise seemed bemused, if not enthused. It made Brezinski quite ill, of course, and infamous, if temporari...

841,065 left California. Where will you find them?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

“Numerology” tries to find reality within various measurements of economic and real estate trends.Buzz: Where did 841,065 ex-Californians go in 2021? That’s an outflow larger than the number of people living in Wyoming or Vermont or Alaska or North Dakota or the District of Columbia.Source: My trusty spreadsheet looked at the latest state-to-state migration data from the Census Bureau to see where that flock might have the biggest clout within their new home state.Fuzzy math: What might be the potential influence of all these ex-Californians?ToplineLet’s start with the raw number of relocations.The top destination was Texas, with 107,546 moving from California to the Lone Star State in 2021. Next was Arizona at 69,432, Nevada at 62,437, Washington at 57,576, Oregon at 51,623, Florida at 37,464, Colorado at 33,648, New York at 31,335, Georgia at 28,908, Idaho at 27,193, and Utah at 23,219.Note: Seven of those 10 states are west of the Mississippi.Conversely, Delaware got the fewest e...

Saratoga resident loses reported $3M in cryptocurrency theft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

JUNE 26Theft by false pretenses: A Saratoga resident reported that someone used a fictitious company to collect money from them as an investment in cryptocurrency for a total loss of about $3 million.Possession of drug paraphernalia and controlled substances for sales: At 8:37 p.m., deputies responded to a suspicious person call at the Fellowship Plaza senior housing complex on Fruitvale Avenue. An investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, Adderall, and Xanax for sales. The suspect also had five outstanding warrants.JUNE 27Grand theft: Between 2:35 p.m. and 2:47 p.m., someone entered an unlocked vehicle parked in front of Pet Food Express in the Argonaut Shopping Center on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and stole a cellular phone for a total loss of about $1,000.JUNE 29Vehicle tampering, grand theft: At 1:59 a.m., someone tampered with a vehicle parked in the 18000 block of Vanderbilt Drive and stole a catalytic converter for a total loss ...

Man arrested after crashing stolen car in front of San Rafael High School

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

(KRON) -- A Novato resident was arrested Tuesday for evading police in a stolen car after he crashed in front of San Rafael High School. At around 11:40 a.m., an officer attempted to make a traffic stop after observing a car accelerate through a red traffic signal light at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Second Street. The car ran through another red traffic light and increased its speed as it traveled northbound on Grand Avenue and then onto eastbound Mission Avenue, police said. Police looking for alleged serial arsonist in Gilroy The police officer discontinued the active pursuit due to public safety concerns. The suspect continued to travel at a high rate of speed and lost control of the car in front of San Rafael High School, crashing into several concrete bollards, the department said. Photo: San Rafael PDPhoto: San Rafael PDThe car stopped just before it could collide with the school’s gymnasium. Several witnesses reported the collision and told police that two suspect...

UEFA clears Brighton, Toulouse and Aston Villa for European entry but limits future transfer deals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Under threat of losing European competition places, Brighton, Toulouse and Aston Villa were cleared Friday by UEFA to play next season despite their owners having ties to other clubs that qualified, including AC Milan.However, UEFA also prohibited the partner clubs — Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise; Toulouse and Milan; Villa and Vitória Guimarães — from exchanging players via sales or loans through the end of the summer transfer window next year.UEFA drafted rules on multi-club ownership 25 years ago to protect the integrity of its competitions when the teams could be drawn to play each other during the season. UEFA-appointed investigators evaluated three cases in recent weeks.UEFA noted the “significant changes by the clubs and their related investors” to comply with the rules that “substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power over more than one club.”“The clubs will not transfer players to each other, whether permanently or on loan, dir...

Ant Group fined $985 million by Chinese regulators

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

Chinese regulators are fining Ant Group 7.123 billion yuan ($985 million), claiming the financial technology provider violated laws related to corporate governance and consumer rights.The People’s Bank of China imposed the fine on Friday. “We will comply with the terms of the penalty in all earnestness and sincerity and continue to further enhance our compliance governance,” Ant Group said in a prepared statement.According to the Bank of China, Ant violated laws and regulations related to corporate governance, financial consumer protection, participation in business activities of banking and insurance institutions, payment and settlement business, and attending to anti-money laundering obligations. The company, which was founded by Jack Ma, is an affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba, which Ma also founded. In January, it was announced that Ma would give up control of Ant Group. The move followed other efforts over the years by the Chinese government to rein in Ma and the cou...

What’s next for Manassas airport expansion? City Council to take up measure July 10

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

This article was written by WTOP’s news partner, InsideNoVa.com, and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.Manassas city officials are looking ahead to what’s next for the city’s airport, with lots still to be done before commercial airlines can take flight.A recently proposed commercial flight agreement between the airport and Avports is expected to get its first reading from the City Council July 10, with the final reading slated for July 17. If approved, the agreement would trigger a flurry of work to get the airport’s terminal ready for commercial service in the next two years.For the airport to hold up its end of the agreement with Avports – a Dulles-based airport operations manager – the city’s biggest responsibility will be to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration under Part 139, which establishes requirements for airports serving scheduled commercial service.Airport Director Juan Rivera said airport leaders will...

Florida teen creates prom dress with duct tape in hopes of winning scholarship funds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

A Florida teenager has emerged as one of the top contenders in the Duck Brand’s 2023 “Stuck at Prom” contest, employing her Asian roots and American upbringing to fashion an extraordinary dress entirely out of duct tape. As the voting deadline of July 12 approaches, this determined young artist vies for victory alongside four other finalists, all eager to secure the sought-after scholarship.Ziqin C. meticulously crafted a stunning ensemble that took 100 hours to create, all fashioned from 18 rolls of Duck Brand’s duct tape.The “Stuck at Prom” contest, organized annually by Duck Brand, challenges high school students to create prom outfits using only the adhesive wonder of duct tape for a chance to win scholarship money.“I hoped to combine my studies of herbalism, woodblock printing, and costume design to make an ethereal and modern piece,” Ziqin explained on Duck Brand’s website. “As I am a mix of my Asian roots and my Amer...

‘Fast Car’ remake helps Tracy Chapman make country music history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

(CNN) — Tracy Chapman is pretty reclusive, but she is commenting on a bit of history she made this week.“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman told Billboard in an exclusive statement. “I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”Country star Luke Combs’ cover of her hit 1988 single “Fast Car” has reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart, which makes Chapman the first Black woman to top the chart since the chart came into existence in 1990.Chapman, who is the sole writer of “Fast Car,” also reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Songwriters chart, thanks to the Combs remake.Combs’ version has risen higher in the charts than Chapman’s did. It was No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week while Chapman’s version peaked at No. 6 after it was released in 1988.“Fast Car” was the first single of Chapman’s self-titled debut album and it earned her a Grammy in 1989 for ...

Officials: Dog dies after Central Florida man left it in hot truck for 2 hours while boating

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

GENEVA, Florida (WESH) — A dog died after wildlife officials say it was left in a hot vehicle in Seminole County.According to a report from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, officers were called to Jolly Gator Fish Camp in Geneva on July 2.Upon arrival, officers witnessed a man, identified as Jeffrey Dwayne Willis, attempting to revive the dog.The efforts were unsuccessful.According to the report, Willis said he had been on his airboat for two hours and forgot he left the dog inside the truck.Willis was placed under arrest for animal cruelty and booked in the Seminole County Jail.