Commercialization of Mother's Day

After nine years after the first official Mother's Day, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become and spent all her inheritance and the rest of her life fighting what she saw as an abuse of the celebration.

Later commercial and other exploitations of the use of Mother's Day infuriated Anna and she made her criticisms explicitly known throughout her time. She criticized the practice of purchasing greeting cards, which she saw as a sign of being too lazy to write a personal letter. She was arrested in 1948 for disturbing the peace while protesting against the commercialization of Mother's Day, and she finally said that she "wished she would have never started the day because it became so out of control .

Mother's Day continues to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. occasions. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.

For example, according to IBISWorld, a publisher of business research, Americans will spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers, $1.53 billion on pampering gifts—like spa treatments—and another $68 million on greeting cards.

Mother's Day will generate about 7.8% of the U.S. jewelry industry's annual revenue in 2008, with custom gifts like mother's rings.

It's possible that the holiday would have withered over time without the support and continuous promotion of the florist industries and other commercial industries. Other Protestant holidays from the same time, like Children's Day and Temperance Sunday, do not have the same level of popularity. Mother's Day is also prominent in the Sunday Funnies of United States newspapers, being a rich source of humor concerning mothers, children and husbands ranging from sentimental to wry to caustic.

Mother's Day in United States

(States Twitter)-Mother's Day is an annual holiday that recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well the positive contributions that they make to society. In the United States it is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

Carnations

Carnations have come to represent Mother's Day, since Anna Jarvis delivered 500 of them at its first celebration in 1908. Many religious services held later copied the custom of giving away carnations. This also started the custom of wearing a carnation on Mother's Day. The founder, Anna Jarvis, chose the carnation because it was the favorite flower of her mother. In part due to the shortage of white carnations, and in part due to the efforts to expand the sales of more types of flowers in Mother's Day, the florists promoted wearing a red carnation if your mother was living, or a white one if she was dead; this was tirelessly promoted until it made its way into the popular observations at churches.

Holiday establishment

In its present form, Mother's Day was established by Anna Marie Jarvis, following the death of her mother Ann Jarvis on May 9, 1905, with the help of Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker. A small service was held on May 12, 1907 in the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia where Anna's mother had been teaching Sunday school. But the first "official" service was on May 10, 1908 in the same church, accompanied by a larger ceremony in the Wanamaker Auditorium in the Wanamaker's store on Philadelphia. She then campaigned to establish Mother's Day first as a U.S. national holiday and then later as an international holiday.

Chevrolet Corvette

Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is a grand tourer racing car built by Pratt & Miller and General Motors for competition in endurance racing. It is a replacement for the Corvette C5-R racing car, applying the body style of the new C6 generation Chevrolet Corvette as well as improvements to increase the speed and reliability on the track. Since its debut in 2005, it has continued on from the previous dominance of the C5-R in its racing class with multiple American Le Mans Series championships and race wins in the Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Development

Having already established the C5-R as a winning car, the development of the C6.R was more of an evolution of a design rather than an all new car which required long periods of testing and design. Pratt & Miller's process was aided by the fact that, unlike the C5-R which debuted several years after the C5 generation Corvette was on the streets, the C6.R and C6 generation Corvettes would be developed at the same time. This meant that design elements which would help the race car could be adapted to the road car, allowing the C6.R to use more exotic design features but still meet homologation requirements. In turn, this meant racing elements could be adapted to the Corvette Z06 performance car, which the C6.R shares it exterior styling with.

Corvette Racing

Following the retirement of the C5-R at the end of 2004, the factory Corvette Racing squad started 2005 with two brand new C6.Rs. Unlike the previous car, which ran only select events until it could be proven quick and reliable, the C6.Rs would compete in the full American Le Mans Series season in their first year. The season did not begin as Corvette Racing had planned however, as the equally new Prodrive Aston Martin DBR9 managed to win the initial event at Sebring, earning Corvette Racing their first loss since the end of 2003. Prodrive returned to Europe after Sebring, and Corvette Racing was able to earn wins in each of the succeeding races that season. Even when Prodrive returned for the final two rounds, the improved Corvettes continued their streak and won both races. The C6.Rs also ventured to Europe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the team were able to outlast the quicker DBR9s to earn a 1-2 victory in the GT1 class and finish fifth and sixth overall.

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was a comic book series published monthly by DC Comics focusing on the adventures of supporting character Lois Lane. The series began publication March/April 1958 and ended its run September/October 1974 with 137 regular issues and 2 80-page Annuals. With the similarly themed Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen as its senior, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane would mark the second comic series based on a Superman supporting character.

From the first issue, stories centered on Lois' romantic interest in Superman and her attempts to maneuver him into marriage, only to fail due to a comic plot twist. In the early 1960s Lana Lang made regular guest appearances, generally as Lois' romantic rival. Artist Kurt Schaffenberger drew most of the stories for the first 81 issues of the series, missing only issue #29. 

Schaffenberger's rendition of Lois Lane became cited by many as the "definitive" version of the character. The Catwoman made her first Silver Age appearance in #70 (Nov. 1966).

By the 1970s, the stories began to reflect growing social awareness: Lois became less fixated on romance, and more on current issues. In the controversial story "I Am Curious (Black)!" in #106 (Nov. 1970), for example, Lois uses a machine that allows her to experience racism firsthand as an African American woman. The series saw the debut of Silver Age heroine The Rose & The Thorn in a back up feature that ran from #105 (Oct. 1970) through #130 (April 1973).

In fall 1974, the title ended as did Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen earlier that year. Both would be merged, however, into Superman Family which chronologically continued from the elder title, premiering on issue #164.

Gold Price Dips Below $1,500, Silver Plunge Continues

Oil prices dropped sharply again on Friday morning in volatile markets after Thursday's record sell-off, with investors keeping a wary eye on key US jobs data out later in the day.

The share prices of gold and silver mining companies moved lower, led by declines in Barrick Gold (ABX) and Goldcorp (GG), which sank 2% and 1%, respectively. Barrick, the worlds’ largest gold producer has dropped 7.5% over the past eight trading days on the back of soft gold prices and a takeover bid for copper company, Equinox Minerals that has been ill-received by the market.

US crude futures fell by more than $5 to as low as $94.63 a barrel. Brent crude was also down sharply, losing $4.89, or 4.45%, to $105.87 a barrel following a record $12 drop on Thursday. Oil prices have now fallen for five days in a row.

Burbank, founder of hedge fund Passport Capital, reduced the size of his gold positions in order to lock in profits, according to an individual close to the firm. However, the source noted that Burbank remains bullish on the gold price over the longer-term, but feels that the price of gold is due for a meaningful correction at this time.

Silver looks headed for its steepest decline in decades on the back of the decision by the CME [derivatives market] to sharply increase its cash margin requirements," said Jane Foley at Rabobank. "The losses in oil have been linked with the expectation that the war against terror may be gaining the upper hand, though this view has been met with much scepticism."

The dollar traded slightly down against a basket of currencies after jumping 1.5% on Thursday, the biggest gain in over six months.

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene original Greek Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή, flourished 1st century AD) was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples. She is famous because she was the first person to see Jesus after he rose from the dead, according to John 20 and Mark 16:9, part of the so-called "Longer Ending" to that chapter.

The late 20th and early 21st century has seen a restoration of the New Testament figure of Mary Magdalene as a patron of women's preaching and ministry. Her new popularity has stemmed in part from the recognition that Mary Magdalene has suffered from what is believed to have been a historical defamation of character. Some argue who? that she has been misidentified as a repentant prostitute in historical tradition and as depicted in art as a weeping sinner wiping Jesus' feet with her hair.

According to Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9, Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons." Some contemporary scholars contend this concept means healing from illness, not forgiveness of sin. On the other hand, some major Christian saints, including St. Bede and St. Gregory, interpret the seven devils to signify that she was "full of all vices. Hence, on this interpretation, the episode does signify the forgiveness of sins. Mary Magdalene is the leader of a group of female disciples who are present at the cross, when the male disciples (excepting John the Beloved) have fled, and at his burial. Mary was a devoted follower of Jesus, entering into the close circle of those taught by Jesus during his Galilean ministry. She became prominent during the last days, accompanying Jesus during his travels and following him to the end. She witnessed his Crucifixion and burial.

Mary Magdalene is referred to in early Christian writings as "the apostle to the apostles." In apocryphal texts, she is portrayed as a visionary and leader of the early movement, who was loved by Jesus more than the other disciples. Several Gnostic gospels, such as the Gospel of Mary, written in the early 2nd century, see Mary as the special disciple of Jesus who has a deeper understanding of his teachings and is asked to impart this to the other disciples. Speculations (though unsupported in Christian biblical canons) have emerged in antiquity and in modern times regarding Mary, including claims that she was Jesus' wife and bore him a daughter named Sarah.

In film and literature

Donatello's sculpture of Maria Magdalena, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy

Abel Ferrara's 2005 film Mary:, with Juliette Binoche as an actress portraying Mary Magdalene in a film within the film

Anime and Manga series Chrono Crusade refers to main character Rosette Christopher as Mary of Magdalene

Antoinette May's novel Claudia, Daughter of Rome

Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln's 1982 book Holy Blood, Holy Grail

Bruce Chilton's Mary Magdalene: A Biography, Doubleday, 2005. ISBN 978-0385-51318-0

Charlotte Graham portrayed a silent Mary Magdalene in the 2006 film The Da Vinci Code based on the Dan Brown novel of the same name

Christopher Moore includes Mary Magdalene (called 'Maggie' in the book) as a childhood friend of Jesus (called Joshua in the book) and Biff in his book Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

Elizabeth Cunningham's "Maeve Chronicles." including Daughter of the Shining Isles, The Passion of Mary Magdalen, and Magdalen Rising

Fiona Avery's novel, The Crown Rose, Mary is said to have loved Jesus and borne a son by him

Dr. J.D. McWilliams' 2011 graphic novel The Tower: The True Story of Mary Magdalene's Rise from Demon Priestess to Christian Saint portrays Mary Magdalene as a victim of cultic sexual abuse before Jesus saves her.

Jean-Claude La Marre's 2006 film, Color of the Cross. Mary Magdalene is portrayed by Iranian actress Marjan Faritous

John Henson's retelling of various Gospel stories, The Gay Disciple (O Books, 2007). Mary Magdalene features particularly in 'The Far Country and Back Again', in which, known as 'Maggie', she is depicted as a friend and business associate of Mary of Bethany

Kathleen McGowan's novels The Expected One (Simon & Schuster, 2006)& "The Book of Love"

Ki Longfellow's novel, The Secret Magdalene (first published by Eio Books, 2005, then by Random House, 2007–2008) is in preproduction for Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, writer/director Nancy Savoca

Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, The Templar Revelation (1997)

Margaret George's novel Mary, Called Magdalene (Penguin Books: New York, 2002)

Marianne Fredriksson's novel, According to Mary Magdalene (1999)

Maurice Maeterlinck's 1910 play, Mary Magdalene, which acknowledges a debt to Paul Heyse's Maria von Magdala

Mel Gibson's 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ where Mary Magdalene is portrayed by Italian actress Monica Bellucci

Michèle Roberts' 1984 novel The Wild Girl, republished in 2007 as The Secret Gospel of Mary Magdalene, with a new preface by the author

Nikos Kazantzakis's novel, The Last Temptation of Christ (Martin Scorsese's film of the same title, played by Barbara Hershey)

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Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum is a country music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals), Dave Haywood (background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin) and Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals). The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol Records Nashville and releasing "Love Don't Live Here". The song, which nearly reached the top due to its breakthrough performance by the group, peaked at #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart in May 2008, served as the first single to the group's self-titled debut album. Certified platinum in the U.S., the album also includes the singles "Lookin' for a Good Time" and "I Run to You", the latter of which became the group's first Number One in July 2009. "Need You Now," was released in mid-2009 and was the first single off the band's new album released in January 2010; it was also the group's second number one single. "American Honey", the second single from Need You Now, was released in January 2010, and became their 4th top 10 single, as well as their third #1 single. "Our Kind of Love", the album's third single, was released in May 2010, and became their fourth consecutive Number One on the Hot Country Songs chart.

2011-present

The week of January 9, 2011, the group ventured into the studio to begin recording for their third studio album. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Charles Kelley said, "We actually just went ahead and decided we’re gonna take two, two and a half months straight in the studio to create this thing and not have all this distraction. Hopefully that will be a good thing. He goes on to say that the group has around 50 songs which they plan to choose from along with songs from other songwriters. However, he singles out a song called "Dancing Away With My Heart" as one the band is particularly excited about, a song that the group co-wrote with Josh Kear, who previously wrote with the group on their hit "Need You Now."

On May 2, 2011, the group released the first single from their upcoming album, titled "Just A Kiss."

Awards and nominations

Since Lady Antebellum won the Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year award in 2008, they have accumulated seven more awards, including their first Grammy in 2010 for Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocals. At the 2009 CMA's, the group ended Rascal Flatts' six-year reign as Vocal Group of the Year. At the 2010 CMA's, the group became the first artist in CMA Award history to receive the Single of the Year honor for two consecutive years.

At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, the trio won the Song of the Year, beating "Love The Way You Lie" performed by Eminem and Rihanna.

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Hoover Commission

Hoover Commission, officially named the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, was a body appointed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the Federal Government of the United States. It took its nickname from former President Herbert Hoover, who was appointed by Truman to chair it.

History, membership and results

Authorized by Congress in the Lodge-Brown Act of 1947 (named for Representative Clarence J. Brown, Sr. of Ohio and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. of Massachusetts), the commission first met September 29, 1947. Besides Hoover, its members were former Postmaster General and F.D.R.'s campaign manager James Farley, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Senator George Aiken of Vermont, Representative Brown, Secretary of Defense James V. Forrestal, Civil Service Commissioner Arthur S. Flemming, former Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy, political scientist James Kerr Pollock, attorney James H. Rowe, Representative Carter Manasco of Alabama, industrialist George Mead and Senator John L. McClellan of Arkansas. Aiken, Brown, Flemming, Hoover, Mead and Pollock were Republicans. Acheson, Forrestal, Kennedy, Manasco, McClellan and Rowe were Democrats. The commission was supported by a large staff and numerous expert task forces.

Second Hoover Commission

Also, a Second Hoover Commission was created by Congress in 1953 during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Also headed by Hoover (who was then almost 80 years old), the second commission sent its final report to Congress in June 1955.

Twenty-second Amendment (Amendment XXII)

Twenty-second Amendment (Amendment XXII) of the United States Constitution sets a term limit for the President of the United States. The Congress passed the amendment on March 21, 1951. It was ratified by the requisite number of states on February 27, 1951. The Amendment was the final result of the recommendations of the Hoover Commission which was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1969.

History

Historians point to George Washington's decision not to seek a third term as evidence that the founders saw a two-term limit as convention and a bulwark against a monarchy; his Farewell Address, however, suggests that it was because of his age that he did not seek re-election. Thomas Jefferson also contributed to the convention of a two-term limit; in 1807 he wrote, "if some termination to the services of the chief Magistrate be not fixed by the Constitution, or supplied by practice, his office, nominally four years, will in fact become for life. Jefferson’s immediate successors, James Madison and James Monroe, also adhered to the two-term principle.

Criticism

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the first president to whom the amendment applied, expressed concern over the erosion of a second-term president's power and influence, as the president becomes a political lame duck.

According to historian Glenn W. LaFantasie of Western Kentucky University, "ever since 1985, when Ronald Reagan was serving in his second term as president, there have been repeated attempts to repeal the 22nd Amendment, this proposal has failed repeatedly in Congress, although it is still introduced over and over again. In addition, several Democratic congressmen, including Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. José Serrano, Rep. Howard Berman, and Sen. Harry Reid, have introduced legislation to repeal the Twenty-second Amendment, but each resolution died before making it out of its respective committee. There have also been proposals to remove the absolute two term limit and replace it with no more than two consecutive terms.

Text

Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

Barack Obama next term after Osama

LDemocrats discussing after successful raid on Osama bin Laden about third term amendment for Obama's third term:Sources  say


President Barack Obama’s approval rating has risen only slightly following the successful raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan, a new Rasmussen Reports poll reveals.

After successful raid that killed bin Laden at his compound in Pakistan has largely bumped to the background the Republican campaign to pick a successor to oppose him in 2012.

Overall, 49 percent of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the Obama’s performance, and 50 percent at least somewhat disapprove.

“Those figures have shown little movement since the news about bin Laden,” Rasmussen observed.

That's what makes them seen presidential. And after the bin Laden killing that's what Republicans need in a nominee. If they don't nominate somebody Americans can imagine sitting in the Oval Office making these life-and-death decisions, they can shut the campaign down right now.

Rasmussen also found that 86 percent of likely voters approve of the president’s decision to authorize the raid on bin Laden’s compound, and 53 percent give Obama good or excellent marks for handling national security issues, up 14 percent from a week ago.

Interestingly, despite warnings that the killing of Osama could trigger new terrorist attacks, only 28 percent of respondents said they believe a terrorist attack is very likely over the coming year, down from 35 percent in November.

So it's important to acknowledge that and for Americans to remember that despite the elimination of bin Laden, we're still extremely dependent upon and grateful to our military men and women for what they do.

Oil above $100 as traders eye weak US jobs

Oil prices inched higher on Friday morning after Thursday's record 10% drop, with investors keeping a wary eye on key US jobs data out later in the day.


On Thursday Brent oil posted it second-largest one-day fall on record in dollar terms. Europe's benchmark crude fell by as much as $12 a barrel during the normal trading session, and U.S. crude dropped $10, leading one of the sharpest commodities sell-offs in years.


Benchmark crude for June delivery was up 43 cents at $100.23 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude for June delivery was up $1.10 to $111.90 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.


Crude would have to stay around $100 for five to 10 days before we see gas prices come down," says a senior analyst at energy trader DTN. He expects seasonal demand to lift prices to as much as $4.20 a gallon, surpassing July 2008's $4.11 record.


A stronger dollar, which makes oil more expensive for investors with other currencies, also helped push crude prices down.
Some analysts expect oil to resume its rise as political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa could spread and threaten to disrupt crude supplies in the oil-rich region.


But others thought that disappointing US jobs numbers could push oil down to $105 a barrel.


The dollar traded slightly down against a basket of currencies ater jumping 1.5% on Thursday, the biggest gain in over six months.

How compares Kate and William with Charles and Diana

On Friday, it was widely rumored that the Duchess of Cambridge said ‘no thanks’ to professional makeup help, instead choosing to do her own eyes, cheeks and lips. So was it true? We may never know. But Bobbi Brown confirmed this week that members of the royal wedding party received “makeup artistry assistance” from company makeup artist Hannah Martin. So what was the verdict? Brown, who’s been in the makeup business for more than 20 years, thinks the newlywed was the perfect picture of a blushing bride.

If there was a real winner from the Royal Wedding – apart from the happy couple – then it was the Midland car industry.

Barely an hour passed without a great Midland marque being thrust into the world’s spotlight at the big event – although those mini-buses should be on another region’s conscience.

Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles also gripped the nation, and many will have recognised similarities in everything from the red carpets the brides walked down to the way the couples waved to their supporters from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

But there were also some notable differences.

Some similarities between the two wedding were just a result of both couples following age-old traditions. Both wedding cakes, for example, were white, tiered and very elaborate.

But Prince William said as soon as he got engaged that he would find ways to make it feel like his mother was by his side at his wedding - and taking inspiration from the ceremony she chose was a very touching tribute.

Both have been modified by British coachbuilders and feature fishbowl and bullet proof glasswork to enable onlookers to get a better view of the occupants.

The final tribute to the British car industry was an Aston Martin DB6 Volante which was driven by Prince William when the Royal Couple left Buckingham Palace for Clarence House.

Lessons from July 7 2005

(States Twitter)-Relatives of the victims sat through five months of often shocking evidence about the planning, execution and aftermath of the suicide bombings on the London transport network on July 7 2005.

The wideranging hearing into the 2005 London bombings is expected to record that the 52 victims were unlawfully killed.

But Lady Justice Hallett also examined whether the bombings could have been anticipated by the security services and how the emergency services dealt with them.

Many of the relatives and witnesses of July 7 have waited nearly six years for the inquest to give answers about how their loved ones died and whether deaths could have been prevented.

Fifty-two people were killed when suicide bombers exploded devices at Aldgate, Edgware Road and Kings Cross underground stations.

The fourth device was detonated on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square.

The bombings carried out by Mohammed Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Hasib Hussain, 18, and Jermaine Lindsay, 19, are the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil. As well as killing themselves and 52 others, they injured over 700 people.

Pressure to quit builds on Sony's Howard Stringer

Sony chief Sir Howard Stringer has spoken about the security breach of the PlayStation Network for the first time, apologising to the users affected and unveiling a $1m identity theft insurance policy to protect each user in the future.

The revelation comes just days after Sony issued a public apology following an attack on its PlayStation Network and has led to criticism of the Welsh-born Sir Howard, who has led Sony for six years.

However, Stringer has been forced to take action to try and control the crisis as Sony's share price fell by as much as 4% in trading on Thursday as investors worried about the ultimate cost of the attacks.

The previous security issues included a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, which was organised by the vigilante group Anonymous. DDoS attacks merely cause problems for users attempting to access the company's websites; however the second attack, presumed to be spearheaded by a separate group, may have compromised credit card information from millions of subscribers.

Stringer said that the game network would be restored "in the coming days" – the service has been offline for almost three weeks – with all users having to change their account passwords before being able to sign in.

To try to entice users back onto the system, and by way of apology, Stringer reminded gamers that a "welcome back" package is being offered that will include benefits including a month free of its premium-level service "to make up for time lost.

Sir Howard Stringer

Sir Howard Stringer (born February 19, 1942) is a Welsh-born American businessman and the chairman, president and CEO of Sony Corporation.

Sony

Stringer began work at Sony in May 1997 as president of their US business (Sony Corporation of America). He was made a Sony group executive officer in May 1998.

Since June 2005, he has been chairman and CEO of Sony overseeing the entire businesses of Sony, including its media and electronics subsidiaries such as the Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Financial Holdings. On April 1, 2009, he became president of Sony Corporation and ousted Ryoji Chubachi in what was seen as prelude to broader corporate restructuring. Stringer also serves as executive chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Corporation of America. He has been president of Sony Broadband Entertainment Corporation since March 2000.

Career

Stringer had a 30-year career at CBS, where he was a journalist, producer and senior executive. He served as president of CBS from 1988 to 1995, where he was responsible for all the broadcast activities of its entertainment, news, sports, radio and television stations.

[edit]Highlights of his career at CBS

Executive producer of "CBS Reports" (1976–1981)

Executive producer of "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" (1981–1984)

President of CBS News (1986–1988)

President of CBS, Inc. (1988–1995)

He won nine Emmys at CBS for the following programs: "The Rockefellers", "The Palestinians", "A Tale Of Two Irelands", "The Defense Of The United States", "The Boat People", "The Boston Goes To China", "The Fire Next Door", and "The CIA's Secret Army.

TELE-TV

Sir Howard Stringer left CBS in 1995 to set up TELE-TV, a media and technology company formed by US telecoms Bell Atlantic, NYNEX, Pacific Telesis, and Creative Artists Agency in February 1995. He left two years later to join Sony.

Personal life

Stringer was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of Marjorie Mary (née Pook), a Welsh schoolteacher and coal trimmer, and Harry Stringer, an English sergeant in the Royal Air Force. He emigrated to the United States in 1965, and served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Stringer became a naturalized citizen in 1985 and now holds dual US-UK citizenship. His younger brother, Rob Stringer, is chairman of Sony Music Label Group. In 1978, Stringer married Jennifer A. Kinmond Patterson. They have two children.

Awards and honors

He received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement while serving in the Republic of Vietnam.

He earned nine Emmys from 1974 to 1976 as a writer, director and producer.

In 1996, he was awarded the First Amendment Leadership Award by the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation.

In 1996, he was also inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.

In May 1999, he received the UJA-Federation of New York's Steven J. Ross Humanitarian Award.

In November 1999, he was inducted into the Royal Television Society's Welsh Hall of Fame.

On December 31, 1999 he received the title of Knight Bachelor from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In February 2007, the Museum of Television and Radio awarded him with its Visionary Award for Innovative Leadership in Media and Entertainment.

He has been honored by Lincoln Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the New York Hall of Science.

He received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Glamorgan in Wales and University of the Arts London.

In 2000, he received an honorary fellowship from Merton College, Oxford.

In 2001, he received an honorary fellowship from Royal Welsh College of Music and; Drama.

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