Six degrees of separation
Olivia Rosenman
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a civil servant in the Russian Ministry of Justice before he became one of the world's most famous composers; his Piano Trio in A Minor, Op 50 will be presented in a Gala Concert at Hong Kong's City Hall tomorrow night. When Tchaikovsky's now classic ballet debuted in St Petersburg, in December 1892, it was decried a failure. One critic called the Sugar Plum Fairy "podgy" while another panned the Columbine doll as being "completely insipid". Last month in New York, the festive ballet was reimagined by choreographer Jennifer Weber …
The Florida-based side has as a mascot Burnie, a fluffy, orange creature fashioned to look like the team's logo: a blazing basketball plunging through a hoop. Burnie bust out some moves with Weber's hip-hop troupe during half-time at a Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls game in 2012. Since Miami Heat were formed, in 1988, they have won three league championships and gathered a slew of famous followers, who are documented on the 's blog, Triple A List. Among those spotted cheering on the team has been the director of films and , Michael Bay …
The former Downing Street resident described Prime Minister's Questions - a Q&A session held every Wednesday when Britain's House of Commons is sitting - as "the most nerve-racking, discombobulating, nail-biting, bowel-moving, terror-inspiring, courage-draining experience in my prime ministerial life, without question". While Blair's once-close relationship with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has long been a thorn in his side, he does have some less controversial contacts in the business, such as Radio 4 presenter - and, at one point, the Labour Party's most generous private financial donor - Melvyn Bragg …
