The Past 24 Hours: February 19, 2016

to-kill-a-mockingbird coverHarper Lee: 1926 – 2016
The Gist: A look back on the life of author Harper Lee, whose To Kill A Mockingbird was published when she was 34 and went on to sell over 40 million copies. Her friendship and work with Truman Capote, her avoidance of any public fetes in her honor, and her life after Mockingbird are here.
Source Article Here: People
Author: Stephen M. Silverman

 

McAfee antivirus creator offers to decrypt locked iPhone of San Bernardino shooterJohn McAfee Pens Op-Ed Piece: “I will, free of charge, decrypt the information on the San Bernardino phone, with my team.”
The Gist: McAfee anti-virus innovator John McAfee: ‘And why do the best hackers on the planet not work for the FBI? Because the FBI will not hire anyone with a 24-inch purple mohawk, 10-gauge ear piercings, and a tattooed face who demands to smoke weed while working and won’t work for less than a half-million dollars a year.’ You haven’t read an op-ed piece like this in a while.
Source Article Here: Business Insider
Author: John McAfee

Generic Code PhotoTech Experts Respond To McAfee’s Hack Offer…Plus, Who’s Siding With Apple In iPhoneGate
The Gist: Reaction to John McAfee’s op-ed piece, including: “Good luck to Mr McAfee trying to socially engineer a corpse into revealing its pass-code.”
Source Article Here: BBC News
Author: Chris Baraniuk

KeshaKesha Denied Preliminary Injunction In Court, Owes Sony Records 6 More Albums
The Gist: Music artist Kesha, 28, was visibly upset in court when a Manhattan Supreme Court judge denied the nullification of her current recording contract. Kesha alleges that producer Dr. Luke raped her when she turned 18 and that she fears working with him. The judge’s response to Kesha’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, and his claims on Kesha’s behalf are in the article.
Source Article Here: New York Daily News
Author: Barbara Ross

digital publishing#Writers’ Advice: Hot Questions About Freelance Writing, Answered
The Gist: A roundtable discussion with 4 globally published freelance writers on developing stories, negotiation, regional ties, side hustles, and words of advice.
Source Article Here: Longreads
Author: Eve Holland

13 Ways#Book Buzz: 9 New Titles Published This Week
The Gist: A look at 9 new works of published fiction this week, with covers and synopses, selected by Publishers Weekly staff.
Source Article Here: Publishers Weekly

 

 

Flashback Read

Rita _ ZankouA Family’s American Dream, Then Rebuilding From An Unfathomable Nightmare
The Gist: Zankou Chicken started with one location in Beirut; when the first Zankou store opened in L.A. in 1983, it grew into a SoCal must-have. In 2003, the family restaurant’s gravely ill patriarch committed a double-murder suicide that claimed his mother and sister’s life. The tragedy that fractured a family and saw his widow take over in 15 days, without a day’s experience, is detailed here.
Source Article Here: Los Angeles Magazine (April 1, 2008)
Author: Mark Arax

The Past 48 Hours: January 3, 2016

Natalie Cole 70s

Natalie Cole: 1950-2015
The Gist: The daughter of music royalty created a bonafide legacy of her own over the course of 4 decades, becoming a part of America’s aural landscape. Billboard’s coverage here.
Source Article Here: Billboard

 

Straight Outta Compton9 Oscar-Potential Screenplays Of 2015 In Their Entirety
The Gist: Here are 10 free screenplays to read, from Straight Outta Compton to Trumbo and Trainwreck.
Source Article Here: Stage 32
Author: Richard “RB” Botto

 

CESYour CES Tip Sheet: What To Keep An Eye Out For …& When
The Gist: The Consumer Electronics Show runs from January 6 – 9. Here are some times/dates for news from Fitbit, Samsung, Sony, and Netflix’s Reed Hastings’ opening keynote speech.
Source Article Here: The Telegraph
Author: Madhumita Murgia

ShamelessEpisode 1 of ‘Shameless’ Season 6 and “Billions’ Premiere Free To See Now
The Gist: Showtime has released both first episodes of the 2016 runs of both series and they’re on the page right here to watch now.
Source Article Here: Screen Crush
Author: Kevin Fitzpatrick

the-girl-on-the-train Top 10 Bestsellers For Print & Kindle In 2015
The Gist: A look at what sold best in traditional publishing (Harper Lee) and its digital counterpart (The Girl on the Train) . Links to genre bestsellers are included within the report.
Source Article Here: Publishers Weekly
Author: Rachel Deahl

 

reporters notebook and keypad2015 In Journalism: Best & Worst Coverage
The Gist: Columbia Journalism Review with highlights (John Oliver, Cosby’s accusers assembled in New York magazine, the live news team murder in VA) and lows (Gawker’s Conde Nast debacle, Trump, Millennial Panic)
Source Article Here: CJR
Author: David Uberti

Close EncountersCinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond’s Career Remembered
The Gist: The departed Zsigmond, 85, won an Oscar for his work on Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and his work ranged from Spielberg & Altman films to The Mindy Project. Included: a 70-minute Masterclass by a master of the craft.
Source Article Here: The Playlist
Author: Kevin Jagernauth

maron_ifc“I was broke, I was defeated, and I was careerless.” – Marc Maron’s Real Talk
The Gist: The human comedy and appeal of career ascent, fall and sweet spot via a podcast phenom.
Source Article Here: The Atlantic
Author: James Parker