The James Logan Courier

By Geoff Boucher
Los Angeles Times (MCT)

LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Iovine, one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, has been lining his walls with gold and platinum records for decades, so when he declares that he's found "the next big thing" it's worth lending an ear. This time, though, his passion project has nothing to do with radio hits or album sales — and that alone says a lot about the state of the recording industry.

By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer

Thanks to the generosity of a current Board of Education member, a past Board member and a local business, the New Haven Schools Foundation Thursday presented four more New Haven Unified School District teachers with “Innovations in Education” classroom grants, for special projects that promote learning.

Board member Kevin Harper, who has independently funded projects in each of the five years since the Foundation began the classroom grant program, gave $500 to Alvarado Middle School teacher Karen Stock to purchase educational software. The software will be used in a Resource Support Program (RSP) “mini-lab,” to help students improve their math, writing and study skills.

By Shamal Asnani, Courier Film Critic

Any fans of the legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes, should be excited to hear that December 25 marked the release date for the film adaptation of the detective. Robert Downey, Jr. stars as the movie’s title character, with Jude law portraying Dr. Watson. The movie begins with the arrest of Lord Blackwood, after his attempt to sacrifice a human being in order to perform a ritual. Months later, Blackwood insists that Holmes be present to witness his hanging. Moments before he is hung, Blackwood explains to the detective that three more deaths will occur after his hanging, and reassures Holmes that nothing can be done to prevent these deaths either.

By Julie Mendoza, Courier Staff Writer

A classic Edward Norton film is The Painted Veil. He’s most famous for the film Fight Club but this movie captures his talent as a brilliant yet sensitive bacterial scientist who’s forced to become responsible for hundreds of lives. As uninteresting as that sounds, his co-star Naomi Watts, causes conflict in his hopes to win her affection. His convincing performance helps you to understand his character and sympathize with his good intentions.

From wikipedia:
Francisco González Bocanegra (January 8, 1824 – April 11, 1861) was a Mexican poet who wrote the lyrics of the Mexican National Anthem in 1853.

He was born in San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí to Spanish soldier José María González Yáñez and Francisca Bocanegra y Villalpando, sister of the Foreign Relations Secretary under President Vicente Guerrero, José María Bocanegra. Despite his father being exempted because of being married to a Mexican, in 1827, his family moved to Spain after a law was enacted expelling all remaining Spanish citizens in the country. They settled in the port of Cádiz until the family returned to San Luis Potosí on December 28, 1836.

Read the Bocanegra's words to the Mexican National Anthem, in English and Spanish, free from wikipedia.