At the Death House Door

At the Death House Door is a personal and intimate look at the death penalty in the state of Texas through the eyes of Pastor Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as the death house chaplain to the infamous “Walls” prison unit in Huntsville. During Pickett’s remarkable career journey, he presided over 95 executions, including the world’s first lethal injection. After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of his trip to the death chamber.

Now playing on the Independent Film Channel (IFC).

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Newspaper Troubles

The newspaper industry has experienced the worst drop in advertising revenue in more than 50 years.

According to new data released by the Newspaper Association of America, total print advertising revenue in 2007 plunged 9.4% to $42 billion compared to 2006 — the most severe percent decline since the association started measuring advertising expenditures in 1950.

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The International Edible Book Festival

The International Edible Book Festival is held annually around April 1st. To date, the following countries have held this festival: Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, United States of America, Russia. Hong Kong has just announced its participation in 2007.

April 1st is the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book Physiologie du goût, a witty meditation on food. April fools’ day is also the perfect day to eat your words and play with them as the “books” are consumed on the day of the event. This ephemeral global banquet, in which anyone can participate, is shared by all on the internet and allows everyone to preserve and discover unique bookish nourishments. This festival is a celebration of the ingestion of culture and a way to concretely share a book; it is also a deeper reflexion on our attachment to food and our cultural differences.

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Global Warming Creates Odd Couples

Al Gore and his organization, the Alliance for Climate Protection, are hoping that a campaign pairing unlikely couples will generate more support for their cause.

The commercials, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, will team up offbeat celebrity couples who may not have much in common but share a belief that it is important to address climate change.

The first spots will bring together a prominent Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, and a prominent Republican, Newt Gingrich; a clergyman on the left, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and a clergyman on the right, the Rev. Pat Robertson; and country singers with sharply differing ideologies, the Dixie Chicks and Toby Keith.

The campaign is being created by the Martin Agency in Richmond, Va., part of the Interpublic Group of Companies. Martin’s work is familiar to TV viewers because the agency also produces campaigns for Geico insurance and Wal-Mart. The campaign will also include ads online and in print.

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