The Chicago Sun-Times Bites the Dust

Another newspaper goes belly up.  This time it’s the Chicago-Sun Times who decided to file for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, saying that it expects advertising revenue to plummet 30 percent this year and joining a growing list of newspaper companies that have taken that step.

Sun-Times Media Group is in a different position from the other publishers that have filed for bankruptcy—companies that made money on operations last year, but cannot make payments on the large sums they owe to banks and bondholders. Sun-Times has no such debt, but it has enormous operating losses and faces a major bill for back taxes.

In December, the Tribune Company, which owns The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and several other major papers, filed for bankruptcy. Since then, Star Tribune Holdings of Minneapolis; Philadelphia Newspapers, publisher of that city’s two major papers; and the Journal Register Company, owner of The New Haven Register and many smaller papers, have done the same.

It looks like the whole newspaper business is in shambles.  The Cloud is taking care that they follow the way of the Dodo.  The same is happening with digital and paper encyclopedias.  Recently Microsoft announced they would ax their Encarta encyclopedia by June.  I’m sure Britannica will follow soon.  It’s just a matter of time.  The Cloud is relentless.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

The Balboa Theater

A place that was also a water hole for those who lived at Balboa, was the Balboa Theater next to the Balboa Clubhouse. The place was modern, good looking and had the latest technology in movie projection.

It was the best movie house on the Isthmus. In fact, many Balboa inhabitants thought it was the best theater in the whole world with a balcony and super-Hi-Fi almost stereo surround-sound.  If you want to take a peek inside the theater, please click here and enjoy the view. The theater followed the Art Deco architecture style.

Art Deco burst onto the world stage at the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale, and quickly swept across the globe. Its influence was everywhere: it transformed the skylines of the cities of New York to Shanghai and shaped the design of everything from fashionable evening wear to plastic radios.

Its charm swept across all areas of art and design, including decorative arts,architecture, fashion, art, graphics and film. The new aesthetics were also found in industrial design, furniture, transport, communications and in household items. Above all, it became the style of the pleasure palaces of the age—hotels, cocktails bars, nightclubs and cinemas.

Currently the Balboa Theater is under the administration of Panama Government, Instituto Nacional de Cultura (National Institute of Culture).  It’s the venue of two very popular talent contests for young kids and young adults.  The first one is called, “Canta Conmigo” (Sing With Me) and the second, “Vive La Música” (Live the Music).  These talent contests follow the pattern of “American Idol” in the United States and “Britain’s Gots Talent” in the U.K.  The latter catapulted opera singer Paul Potts to stardom.

I was there on Sunday, March 22, 2009 and took the following photographs for your enjoyment and remembrance.  Here we go.

Photograph of Balboa Theater located at Balboa, Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A closer view of the Balboa Theater. The poster at the right promotes the "Canta Conmigo" contest held every Wednesday evening. The hill on the background is Sosa Hill. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A close up view of the upper structure of the building where you can appreciate the Art Deco architecture style. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of the attractive marquee of the Balboa Theater which follows the Art Deco architecture style popular during the twenties and thirties. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

This is one of the best kept buildings of the former Canal Zone.  The program to promote the talent of our young generation is very stimulating.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

Photograph of the Day: Green Tunnel

Photograph of Paseo Esteban Huertas at Las Bóvedas, Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R./Michael Moore)

Read Full Post »