Tag-Archive for » british «
American Airlines has announced multi-billion dollar orders for 460 new Boeing and Airbus planes.
The world’s fourth-largest airline by number of passengers, American is buying 200 Boeing 737s and 260 Airbus A320 aircraft.
American described the twin deals as “the largest aircraft order in history”.
Its parent company AMR Corporation added that the new single-aisle planes would “transform” American’s fleet.
The new aircraft will be delivered between 2013 and 2022.
‘Strong endorsement’
Tom Horton says the deal is about American Airlines repositioning itself for future success
AMR chairman Gerard Arpey said American would have “the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among our peers in the US industry within five years”.
He added: “This new fleet will dramatically improve our fuel and operating costs, while enhancing our financial flexibility.”
The exact financial details of both deals have not been revealed.
Europe’s Airbus said the American order was a “strong endorsement”.
While Lady Gaga herself (real name: Stefani Joanne Germanotta) is the artist and creative mind behind Lady Gaga Inc., her lesser-known manager, Troy Carter, is leading the enterprise’s digital strategy. He’s using a unique strategy involving a broad range of online tools to “keep the Gaga machine in overdrive,” the New York Times reports.
The combination of Gaga’s star power and his aggressive deal making have made her the first Twitter user to reach 10 million followers (more than Justin Bieber or President Obama), and her Facebook page has 36 million fans. She’s even begun promotional deals with Google, Zynga and Gilt.
“Troy and Gaga are doing things with communications and fan relationships that we haven’t really seen before,” Gary Briggs, a vice president at Google who worked with Lady Gaga’s team on her recent TV commercial for Chrome, told the New York Times.
Carter has worked with the star for more than four years, during which time the Internet has become increasingly important in music management. “There was a time when radio stations wouldn’t play Gaga’s music because it was considered dance,” Carter said. “Outside of live performances, the Internet became our primary tool to help people discover her music.”
He represents an emerging group of Hollywood managers, actors, musicians and other industry players who are spending more time in Silicon Valley as technology upends the way people consume content. His own venture, Backplane, is attracting capital from prominent backers. Lady Gaga, who has acted as an informal consultant, is a major shareholder, with a 20 percent stake.
Carter has come a long way from lugging crates of records for D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (he met Will Smith in his hometown, West Philadelphia, in the late 1980s) to carrying the popularity and online presence of one of the world’s biggest stars. And while he may prefer to remain behind the scenes, bridging technology and music for the “Gaga machine,” it’s obvious that her career isn’t the only one “in overdrive” as a result of his talent.
Three people were arrested after protesters threw eggs and shoes at Tony Blair when he arrived to sign copies of his best selling memoir at a bookshop in Dublin.
Some 200 activists clashed with police on the city’s main thoroughfare O’Connell street.
Security at the former’s British prime minister’s first signing of his autobiography had been tight due to opposition by an Irish nationalist group opposed to British control of Northern Ireland and by critics of Blair’s decision to join the war in Iraq.
No injuries were reported and the missiles did not hit Blair.
Grace Jones: Lady Gaga, a Copy Cat. Lady Gaga is catching heat these days from her pop star peers, British rapper, M.I.A. and singer Grace Jones, saying the strange, eclectic New York native is jocking their style. Recently M.I.A. spit some hot words about the artist, calling her a good mimic and that her style was “not progressive.” Jones feels the same way. In a recent interview, the singer expressed some similar feelings. “Well, you know, I’ve seen some things she’s worn that I’ve worn, and that does kind of piss me off,” the singer said. When asked if she would ever work with the overnight pop star, she simply said “no.” According to Jones, Gaga asked to collaborate, but she said she would never take it into consideration. “I’d just prefer to work with someone who is more original who is not copying me, actually.” Jones also shared that Gaga does not occupy space in her mind, telling reporters she’d never attend a live performance.
Former rapper Vanilla Ice, now in the United Kingdom, says he’s staying there to play Captain Hook in a holiday season, pantomime performance of the classic play ‘Peter Pan.’
The show – which will run at the Central Theater in Chatham, Kent from Dec.
9, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012 – will be Vanilla Ice’s first pantomime performance.
“Ice is a huge name who I am sure will be a real draw for parents and children alike,” said Tony Hill, the manager of the theater. “He has never performed in a pantomime before, but I am sure that he will go down as a hit.”
Pantomime performances still remain extremely popular in Britain. They are traditionally performed during the Christmas season and billed as an entertaining form of musical comedy that’s perfect for the entire family.