A touching article from the forthcoming November issue of National Geographic:
The November issue of National Geographic magazine features a moving photograph of chimpanzees watching as one of their own is wheeled to her burial. Since it was published, the picture and story have gone viral, turning up on websites and TV shows and in newspapers around the world. For readers whod like to know more, heres what I learned as I interviewed the photographer, Monica Szczupider. On September 23, 2008, Dorothy, a female chimpanzee in her late 40s, died of congestive heart failure. A maternal and beloved figure, Dorothy had spent eight years at Cameroons Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, which houses and rehabilitates chimps victimized by habitat loss and the illegal African bushmeat trade.
After a hunter killed her mother, Dorothy was sold as a mascot to an amusement park in Cameroon. For the next 25 years she was tethered to the ground by a chain around her neck, taunted, teased, and taught to drink beer and smoke cigarettes for sport. In May 2000 Dorothyobese from poor diet and lack of exercisewas rescued and relocated along with ten other primates. As her health improved, her deep kindness surfaced. She mothered an orphaned chimp named Bouboule and became a close friend to many others, including Jacky, the groups alpha male, and Nama, another amusement-park refugee.
Szczupider, who had been a volunteer at the center, told me: Her presence, and loss, was palpable, and resonated throughout the group. The management at Sanaga-Yong opted to let Dorothy’s chimpanzee family witness her burial, so that perhaps they would understand, in their own capacity, that Dorothy would not return. Some chimps displayed aggression while others barked in frustration. But perhaps the most stunning reaction was a recurring, almost tangible silence. If one knows chimpanzees, then one knows that [they] are not [usually] silent creatures.”
It looks like the buzz isn’t ready to die just yet. After a very successful remake and prequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Platinum Dunes apparently has dropped their licensure holding on the rights to the series. Lionsgate just signed with rights-holder and original TCM writer Kim Henkel to bring the cannibalistic and chainsaw-wielding terror Leatherface back to the silverscreen. Both the remake and prequel were very well done. Let’s hope the new owners continue to make the series quality. Some of the remarks from producer Mark Burg conjures some skepticism on that point: “What we’re going to do with it is bring it to 2010. Make it current day and come up with a new story that takes some of the basic plot points, if you will, and make it a current day movie. I don’t want to make another Chainsaw in the ’70s, that doesn’t thrill me. I haven’t seen first draft yet, but we’re working on it.” Burg says numerous directors have expressed interest in making the film. It will also be made for a new dimension; the new Massacre will take place in 3-D. Let’s hope this doesn’t signal a cheesy teen-slasher waste of celluloid…
Casting is nearly complete for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s up-coming sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom: Love Never Dies is scheduled to open at London’s Adelphi Theater on February 20, 2010 and then on Broadway in November of 2010. Today, Playbill announced Joseph Millson and Liz Robertson will join the previously announced Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Summer Strallen as principal cast. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s follow-up to The Phantom of the Opera begins its official opening March 9, 2010. Millson will play Raoul, who is now married to Christine in the new story, set in Coney Island ten years on from where Phantom ended.For more information on The Phantom: Love Never Dies, visit the Official Site: 
The UCF Knights Football team is making preparations for what could be the most exciting game of their season. The Knights host the #9 University of Miami Hurricanes this Saturday. UCF’s squad took Monday-Wednesday off last week to heal and get some much needed rest. Practice resumed Thursday. The Knights (3-2; 1-2 CUSA) are coming off a strong 32-14 victory against Conference USA foes the Memphis Tigers on 10/4 while the ‘Canes (4-1; 2-1 ACC) crushed I-AA FAMU 48-16 last Saturday. Although the Knights are the definite underdog, the 58,000-seat sold-out stadium will provide some deafening crowd noise that should help give the Knights’ defense some help. Miami won’t be alone, however. UM sold all 10,000 of their ticket allotment. This marks the second matchup between the teams. Miami narrowly defeated UCF last season 20-14 in Miami. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm at UCF’s Brighthouse Networks Stadium and the game is being nationally televised on CBS. The Colleges of Nursing and Health & Public Affairs will hold their Tailgate Party outside the Fairwinds Alumni Center from 2:00pm-6:30pm. Come support the Knights to victory against the Miami Hurricanes! GO KNIGHTS!!! BLACK & GOLD!!!
