The New Agency

There is a happy new year.

THE DAYS SHRINK

“Thereby to see the minutes how they run-

How many make the hour full complete,

How many hours bring about the day,

How many days will finish up the year,

How many years a mortal man may live."

                                    -Henry VI

THREE YEARS AGO TODAY

COMO LA CIGARRA

THE RETURN

Luke 15: 20-24

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

THE (RE)RETURN

Loyal readers know that we exist primarily to precipate The Coming Societal Transformation.  In the last few years, The New Agency suffered terrible setbacks.  Our enemies got to us, and we fell apart.  It has been a dark time for the New Agents.  But we never ceased believing in the coming transformation of society.  We have returned and we begin anew in our struggle against the forces of human emancipation. 

THE RETURN

Luke 15: 20-24

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. 

The Oscars

Finally, the wait is over.  In less than 24 hours, the 81st Annual Academy Awards ceremony will take place and we will find out who actually won.  Behold, our predictions:

Best Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Actor: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler” 
Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader” 
Supporting Actor:  Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Animated Feature: “WALL-E” 
Adapted Screenplay: “Slumdog Millionaire,” screenplay by Simon Beaufoy 
Original screenplay: “WALL-E,” screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon; original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter 
Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Donald Graham Burt; set decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Anthony Dod Mantle 
Costume Design: “The Duchess,” Michael O’Connor
Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire”
Documentary Short:“The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306″ 
Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Chris Dickens 
Foreign Language Film: “Waltz with Bashir,” Israel 
Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Greg Cannom
Original Score: “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman
Original Song: “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Gulzar
Animated Short: “Presto”
Live-action Short: “Spielzeugland” 
Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight,” Richard King
Sound Mixing: “The Dark Knight,” Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

THE RISE OF SPAIN

Rafa Nadal defeated Roger Federer at Wimbeldon on Sunday.  Federer had won the previous five Wimbeldons, this was Nadal's first win at Centre Court and his fifth career grand slam. We didn't watch the match, but we hear it was an instant classic (and hella long, too). Is this the beginning of the end of the once seemingly invincible Federer? Or is Nadal's win part of a larger trend of winning for Spanish players/teams? The Spanish National Footbal team won the European Cup a month ago. Is this a sign of things to come at the Olympics? What does it all mean? Who knows, but it was nice to see Nadal finally win at Wimbeldon.  With his win at the French Open earlier this year (also by defeating Federer) he is most certainly the favorite to win the US Open.  This could the beginning of a Nadal Era in men's tennis.

INDEPENDENCE

The New Agency wishes you all a Merry Day of Independence Action!  Yay!  God Bless America.  Yes, we have been absent from our bloggin' duties, but we need not remind you that New Agents always have a higher calling: to find the Pyrotechnic Tiger, the harbinger of universal change.  Not to worry, we're back.  As the New Agents are obsessed with all things historical, we bring you some facts about the this most hallowed day of grilling, parades, shimmering fire in the sky and loud booms (from Wikipedia, the source of all knowledge):

• The "Fourth of July" celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, which announced that the thirteen American colonies were no longer part of the Kingdom of Great Britian. 
• The Continental Congress actually declared independence on July 2, 1776.  On July 4 it adopted the document which formalized this announcement, which is now the Declaration of Independence.
• The Declaration of Independence was not signed by Congress until August 2, 1776.
• During the 4th of July, Americans will consume 155 million wieners!