Milwaukee International Film Festival announces new director

The Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) announced today the appointment of Byron Alpers as executive director. Alpers assumed his position on February 4, 2008, replacing the festival’s co-founder, David Luhrssen, who will remain on MIFF’s board of directors. Alpers comes to the festival with more than 25 years of experience in developing and implementing marketing programs, chiefly for investment management companies. A vice president for marketing at Scudder Funds in his native Boston, he came to Milwaukee to serve as both director of marketing and creative director at Strong Funds. After a similar stint at Heartland Funds, Byron joined Artisan Funds, where he served as a partner. Until recently, he was an independent marketing consultant to such clients as Baird Investment Management, U.S. Bank and Ziegler Capital Management. No stranger to the creative world, Byron minored in art at Dartmouth and earned a Masters in Creative Writing from Boston University. One of his plays, Just Looking, was produced off-Broadway as part of the Rosetta Festival of New Works. He is also a sculptor. His works in stone and turned wooden bowls are represented in a number of private collections on the East Coast. “I’m delighted to be part of MIFF. It’s one of Milwaukee’s major cultural events, and the opportunity to help lead it is very exciting,” Alpers said. The Sixth Annual Milwaukee International Film Festival opens September 18 and runs through September 28, 2008.

The Day After

So Tsunami Tuesday has come and gone and life, as we know it, goes on. Little has changed following yesterday’s mega-primary when nearly half of the states held contests to choose each party’s nominee for president. Certainly the Clinton-Obama battle for the Democratic prize remains deadlocked. The two candidates divided up the states, the votes and, most importantly, the delegates almost evenly. Hillary Clinton is left still fighting for the nomination the day after the largest set of primaries that the nation has ever held which she hoped would drive a dagger into any opponent still standing in her way. And Barack Obama failed to leapfrog over the Clinton machine and assert himself as the new frontrunner. We’re left with two impressive combatants slogging on with the distinct possibility that it will take the party’s convention this summer to decide their fate. Partisans fear that such a lengthy process could do harm to the Democratic Party’s unity going into the fall campaign. But both candidates have apparently decided to stop throwing mud at each other and run reasonably respectful campaigns, at least for the time being. I, for one, think this is a marvelous development for our Republic. It gives schnooks like us in supposedly late primary states the opportunity to cast our votes in a meaningful way. And both candidates are being scrutinized in a way that can only help define them as better qualified than whoever the Republicans nominate. As for the Republicans, the outcome of their Super Tuesday contests provided the only real surprise in the strong showing of Mike Huckabee. As expected, John McCain ended up with the lion’s share of the states and the delegates. But Mitt Romney, who many hardline Republicans were hoping would draw support from the party’s most conservative voters, was overtaken by Huckabee who won several southern states. Prior to Tuesday’s voting, Romney enraged Huckabee by insinuating that the former Arkansas governor had little chance to be anything other than a spoiler. Early last evening, Huckabee appeared to gleefully throw those words back at Romney when he acknowledged that the race had narrowed to two candidates but he was one of them. McCain’s eventual nomination appears pretty close to a sure thing. Huckabee’s success seems to ensure that he will coast to the convention with political capital that may result in his selection as the vice presidential nominee. Romney, on the other hand, looks more and more like the Black Knight from Monty Python who insists he is getting stronger each time he gets one of his arms or legs lopped off. Get over it, Mitt. The people are just not that into you. But the Clinton-Obama contest is what has captured the attention of our nation and the world. Let’s face it, there’s an epidemic of Bush fatigue. Not even the Republicans are dumb enough to be linking themselves to the current occupant of the White House. The historymaking Obama and Clinton campaigns are engaged in an epic battle, neck […]

Weekend Music Report

Little bits before the Big Day

The Mac, the PC, and the McCain

You don’t get a medal for showing up

At VITAL, our new year begins in February. I’d like to thank everyone once again for their support. It used to be a thrill just to write the rent check that proved we weren’t just a home office vanity project; as we’ve matured, though, my view of this whole endeavor has evolved. I have a thousand examples, but it all comes down to one idea, perfectly put by Thomas Jefferson: “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” I now understand that our willingness to work our asses off is ultimately the reason we’re still here, far more than any visionary thinking or single lucky break. I was born in the ‘60s and influenced by both my grandparents’ work ethic and my father’s disdain for it (to be fair, he got over it later in life). Some of my peers joined Generation X. The rest of us went to work. Mine is the generation that brought about both the ubiquity of cocaine-derived drugs and many of the amazing technological advances that shape our world. The two extremes are actually closely related, both born of an inherent relentlessness, a desire to always move at the greatest possible speed, freed from barriers – of fatigue, social awkwardness, geography, even time itself. I’m not saying this is an entirely wonderful way to look at life; the socio-cultural fallout may not be fully measured in my lifetime. Even so, the ‘80s and ‘90s were a gas, a wild ride followed by a hard crash when the middle class economy slowed way down in the first years of the 21st century. But even before that I think there was collective pause, fueled in part by the regret of our parents, now missing the grandkids a thousand miles away, who saw what had become of their latchkey, Kraft dinner-consuming, Alex P. Keaton-channeling offspring. We had it all, but we traded too much to get it. The solution was clear: the next generation would be cared for with a vengeance. Sometime in the late 20th century, the desire to give one’s children “more” took on a new meaning: with the highest percentage of “affluent” Americans in our history, the trappings of attainment took on a nurturing mantle. It was the dawn of the age of the Soccer Mom, the bicycle helmet and the mentality that reasoning was a viable parenting philosophy. I admit it; I was initially swept into the new world order. My kid had a sticker chart that he filled up by performing such amazing feats as picking up his clothes and saying thank you. He actually earned toys for meeting the minimum expectations of socialization! But eventually, I saw what I, his teachers, his soccer coach and the rest of his network of support had wrought: a kid who expected to be rewarded for taking out the garbage. He’s a good boy: naturally nice, smart and funny. On the surface, he looks like […]

Seeking designers

Do you design handbags or know someone who does? Are you interested or would they be interested in selling them at FASHION NINJA for the 2008 HANDBAG EXPO? The HANDBAG EXPO was founded three years ago by designer Areka Ikeler as a way to feature one-of-a-kind, hand-made handbags. This year marks will be the third annual HANDBAG EXPO, held at the Fashion Ninja Boutique. We expect over 200 handbags this year to consume the retail boutique for one weekend only. This EXPO. will kick off on Friday, April 18 with a gallery night party scheduled from 7-11pm, with live music and food to celebrate. The Boutique will sell handbags on opening night and through Saturday and Sunday. APPLICATION DEADLINE for the 2008 HANDBAG EXPO is 2/15/08. Email Fashion Ninja for an application or call 414-481-3865. Visit Fashion Ninja online for more information.

The McCain Surge

And then there were two. Two Democrats and Two Republicans, that is. With John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani dropping out of the presidential campaign, both contests now get really interesting. John McCain narrowly beat Mitt Romney in Florida’s Republican primary Tuesday but because the GOP winner gets all of the state’s delegates, McCain has now emerged as a solid favorite. Romney must be looking to next week’s Tsunami Tuesday to “Keep Hope Alive.” Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are still actively campaigning but their chances are slim to none, particularly in winner take all states. On one level, Democrats should be salivating at having McCain as an opponent in November given the overwhelming unpopularity of the war. Not only has McCain been an outspoken supporter of the war but he was calling for a “surge” back when President George “The Decider” Bush was still endorsing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s “What, me worry?” approach. But McCain appeals to many independents and Dems would be wise not to underestimate the former Navy pilot and Vietnam POW. It is difficult to imagine a candidate winning on a platform of “full-speed ahead” in Iraq. Yet if McCain is nominated the Republicans will try to exploit the contrast between the war veteran and either Democrat on the issue of maintaining America’s strength in the world. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb and predict that the Republicans will be far better at managing the war hero advantage in 2008 than the other side did in 2004. One of the sweeter ironies of McCain’s sudden emergence as the Republican frontrunner is how disliked he is by the party’s conservative base. His positions on immigration and campaign finance have infuriated the party faithful and have driven notorious rabble-rousers including Rush Limbaugh and Tom DeLay to distraction. Romney is now focusing on attacking the conservative credentials of McCain but his own moderate past makes this a difficult sell. So it appears that for the first time in anyone’s memory the Republicans will likely nominate someone not favored by the party’s elite. A strange year, indeed. Another factor that makes McCain an odd choice is the sense that the nation is clamoring for change. While it’s hard to imagine anyone perceiving a 71-year-old white male Washington insider who supports the Bush policy in Iraq as an agent of change, McCain may benefit from his reputation as a renegade. His image as a “straight talker,” supported by his congenial relationship with the national press, also enhances his popularity with moderates and independents. Conventional wisdom suggests that the electorate is depending less on the mainstream media for information in our internet age but the truth is many of the most popular news web sites are often recycling stories from the dreaded MSM. So far, McCain has also managed to control his legendary temper. I guess it shouldn’t surprise anyone that someone who survived five years in a Viet Cong prison could avoid responding to the much milder indignities of […]

Milwaukee Ballet’s new fundraising efforts so far a resounding success

The Milwaukee Ballet announced today that business planning and fundraising efforts with the organization’s new leadership team in place have resulted in new investments totaling more than $625,000. Leading the major contributions were the Dohmen Family Foundation with a gift of $375,000 and the Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation with a gift of $100,000. Additional donors gave more than $150,000 during that same period toward future artistic The Dohmen Family Foundation gift will be used to eliminate the Ballet’s debt, which has grown over the past few years to approximately $375,000. A relatively new contributor to the Milwaukee Ballet, the foundation is excited about working with the Ballet’s leadership team to strengthen this artistic and community treasure. “Over the years, the Milwaukee Ballet has been, and continues to be, supported by passionate and visionary community leaders and we’re very grateful to all of them,” said Bob Dohmen. “Now it’s our turn to join them. We hope our gift inspires others to support the Milwaukee Ballet as they embark on an exciting new era that will enhance this precious community asset.” The Ballet’s recent reorganization of its operations included opening a new business office led by Sam Bahr. Bahr, previously the longtime Controller for Carroll College and a former dancer, continues to strengthen the Ballet’s capacity. New business planning initiatives that focus on supporting the artistic and the Milwaukee Ballet School team’s long-term vision have already led toward more than $150,000 in new gifts. As the Ballet embarks on a new strategic marketing plan, The Herzfeld Foundation grant will be utilized to upgrade its Web site, e-commerce and ticketing functions while developing new resources and flexibility for Milwaukee Ballet School families, all of which provide a more seamless experience for patrons. These new tools will allow the Ballet to better satisfy and maintain relationships with its loyal patron base while reaching out to build relationships with new patrons. In 2007, the Ballet set in motion a plan that gave the organization new strategic priorities to help guide it into the future. Over the last several years, it became clear that the Ballet was facing a new set of challenges and opportunities. One of those challenges was shifting ticket patron buying patterns. “We realize that the needs of audiences and school families, along with their purchasing patterns, are changing. That means it was essential for the Ballet to change if we were going to accomplish our goals,” said Buehler. “Our organization has a rich, cultural vision and pioneering spirit,” continued Buehler. “Those attributes will continue to guide us as we make the changes necessary to become more efficient, strengthen our endowment and improve the reach of our school while creating the nationally acclaimed, innovative and timeless productions our audience loves.” Founded in 1970, the Milwaukee Ballet strives to inspire its audiences to think within and beyond traditional ballet through the presentation of quality performances and the implementation of educational opportunities. The Milwaukee Ballet and the Milwaukee Ballet School are recognized among the […]

VITAL Gallery Archive

Listen to Super Tuesday coverage on WUWM

On Tuesday, February 5 from 7 to 9 pm, WUWM 89.7 FM – Milwaukee Public Radio will carry NPR’s Special Election Coverage of the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses. With competitive races in both parties and a chance that there could be at least one presumptive nominee by the end of the night, NPR will begin providing live coverage of the primary/caucus results at 7 pm. NPR will host coverage from Washington D.C. with updates from NPR reporters in every key state. Election related material will be updated and carried throughout the evening, as dictated by the news, including candidates’ speeches. Extended coverage may air until 1 am. WUWM programming will be pre-empted for this coverage. Listen for coverage about the primaries in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, American Samoa, and the caucuses in Alaska, American Samoa, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and the Republican Convention in West Virginia. Additional reports will air during NPR’s Morning Edition on Wednesday, February 6 from 5 to 9 am. Very exciting.

A Hungry Nation

The presidential campaign of Barack Obama received a stunning boost this week after scoring a huge victory in South Carolina’s primary Saturday followed by endorsements from Caroline Kennedy, Sen. Edward Kennedy, and other members of one of the royal families of the Democratic Party. Much has been made about the negative tone that has recently permeated the contest between Obama and Hilary Clinton with most of the blame falling on the Clinton camp. To his credit, Obama has tapped into a positive vein that seems to be surging throughout the country at just the right time for his campaign. His “Audacity of Hope” rhetoric and determination to run an inclusive campaign contrasts sharply with the image projected by Sen. Clinton, her former president husband and her many experienced surrogates. Her campaign is heavily invested in promoting her not only as more experienced at governing but also more skilled at defending herself from the negative attacks that the Republicans will direct at whichever candidate the Democrats nominate. At this point in the campaign, the Clinton machine appears seriously out of touch with the mood of the nation. While the candidate and her supporters deny introducing the issue of race, you have to scratch your head and wonder “What was he thinking?” when you hear Bill Clinton dismiss Obama’s success in South Carolina by comparing it to Jesse Jackson’s victory in 1988. Coupled with former Atlanta mayor and United Nations ambassador Andrew Young’s absurd remark that Bill Clinton is more “black” than Obama because he bedded more black women and former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey’s repeated references to “Barack Hussein Obama” calls into question the whole notion that the Clintons offer the benefits of a well-oiled election machine. Clearly, it’s too early to call this race over. Only a fraction of the delegates necessary for nomination have been chosen. Tsunami Tuesday is next week when more than 20 states hold primaries and about 40 percent of the number of delegates needed to win will be divided up. But unlike the Republicans, the Democrats divide states up proportionately so that it is very likely that neither Obama nor Clinton will be in a position to declare the race over anytime soon. With all due respect to John Edwards, his inablity to win any of the early contests has made it difficult to imagine a scenario where he can catch either of the frontrunners. When asked, voters generally complain that there is too little attention paid to substantive issues and too much on the horse race. At this point, that seems a bit beside the point, at least as far as the Democratic contest goes. For one thing, there are very few significant differences between the two. Policy wonks will note that Clinton’s health care proposal pledges to provide universal access, while Obama’s falls short of that standard, popular as it is among the party faithful. But on Iraq, the economy, and so many issues their differences are minimal. The key variable which may […]