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TV review: J. Crew honcho story has holes

Given this celebrated makeover, its not surprising that one of the voices in Thursday nights hourlong CNBC documentary about Drexler, J.Crew and the Man Who Dressed America, is Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue and one of the most savvy and puissant forces in fashion.

You can walk the floor with Mickey Drexler and he knows every piece of clothing, an immaculately bobbed Wintour tells CNBC anchor David Faber. You see lots of CEOs who are brilliant at what they do, but theyre removed, and theres nothing removed about Mickey.

Which is perhaps Wintours delicate way of saying that Drexler is a micro-manager. The question that this documentary poses in several smart ways is if a company is successful, is micro-managing such a bad thing? In Drexlers case, the answer seems to be no.

The 67-year-old, who evaluates nearly everything that hits the sales floor, makes his presence well known at the company, from dropping in on stores and drilling managers to regularly addressing employees through an intercom system in J.Crews corporate offices like a chatty school principal, with a stream of announcements and witticisms.

As the CNBC crew documents, when Drexler sees a polka-dot dress or shawl-collar sweater that catches his eye, he excitedly says Hello! Hello! as if greeting a sexy new friend. And when he doesnt like something, it disappears in a flash.

His acumen and trained eye are part of the reason why first lady Michelle Obama is regularly spotted in the brand and J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons has risen to the rank of fashion royalty.

The documentary is a fascinating look at Drexlers world and that of a company straddling the line between aspirational and obtainable clothing. But The Man Who Dressed America doesnt provide a lot of new information.

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TV review: J. Crew honcho story has holes

No Parachute Skydive ~ Things I Found on The Internet Friday ~ Episode #2 [HD] – Video

23-05-2012 13:18 THINGS I FOUND ON THE INTERNET FRIDAY Visit my other channel - for film trailers Curtsey of ITN news. Stuntman Gary Connery completes an incredible jump from a helicopter 1.4km up, onto a pile of boxes, using a wingsuit but no parachute. Report by Sam Datta-Paulin. NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED

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No Parachute Skydive ~ Things I Found on The Internet Friday ~ Episode #2 [HD] - Video

Employment up over 40% at First Internet Bank

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

At the annual meeting of shareholders of First Internet Bancorp, parent company of First Internet Bank, Chairman and CEO David Becker announced yesterday the Bank had increased its employee count 42% by adding 22 employees between December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

The unemployment rate in Indiana is at its lowest rate since 2008, and First Internet Bank is proud to contribute to the growth in private sector jobs, Becker said. He went on to explain these positions helped to support the Banks recently launched commercial lending initiative as well as its established and growing mortgage lending operation. First Internet Bank offers commercial and industrial lending locally, commercial real estate lending regionally, mortgage loans in 49 states, and personal loans and deposit accounts in 50 states.

First Internet Bank did not receive any economic development funds to finance the employment expansion. First Internet Bank had assets of over $610 million as of March 31, 2012, its highest point since its launch in 1999. In addition to employment, First Internet Bank reported 10% growth in loans and 15% growth in deposits in 2011. The Bank closed 38% more mortgages in 2011 than it did in 2010.

A seasoned entrepreneur, Mr. Becker has a history of job creation in Central Indiana since launching his first Indiana-based company 31 years ago.

About First Internet Bank First Internet Bank of Indiana (First IB) is the first state-chartered, FDIC-insured institution to operate solely via the Internet and has customers in all 50 states. Deposit services include checking accounts, regular and money market savings accounts with industry-leading interest rates, CDs and IRAs. First IB also offers consumer loans, conforming mortgages, jumbo mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, and commercial loans. First Internet Bank opened for business in 1999.

About First Internet Bancorp First Internet Bancorp (FIBP.OB), the parent company of First Internet Bank of Indiana, is privately capitalized with over 240 private and corporate investors. The Bancorp became effective March 21, 2006.

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Employment up over 40% at First Internet Bank

Internet phone service bill advances in California Senate

SACRAMENTO A controversial bill that would ban state agencies from regulating telephones that use Internet connections passed a state Senate committee after the measure's author accepted amendments that would strengthen some consumer protections.

The proposal by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) is backed by AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., and cable and high-tech companies. They contend they need "certainty" that the California Public Utilities Commission will not try to oversee the Internet and phone companies that transmit voice signals over fiber optic lines.

The suggested amendments, presented by Padilla at a hearing Thursday of the Senate Appropriations Committee, are designed to assuage the fears of PUC members that they'll be stripped of the few powers they still have to protect voice-over-Internet telephone customers.

The new wording, which has not been legally drafted, ensures that Padilla's bill "will not be misinterpreted as going back on any existing consumer protection," he said. No changes will occur to laws that require telephone companies to guarantee service anywhere in California, provide subsidized basic services to low-income customers and maintain a 911 emergency network. The latest proposal also would empower PUC staff to take informal actions to resolve consumer complaints about voice-over-Internet billing or quality problems, Padilla said.

At the same time, the legislation, SB 1161, is aimed at quelling concerns at high-tech companies that the PUC at some point might end its light-handed attitude toward voice-over-Internet phones as well as the Internet.

"We want to continue to foster innovation and enhancement of service," the senator said.

PUC members, meeting in San Francisco at the same time that Padilla's bill was being debated in Sacramento, said they wanted to work with the Legislature to craft a compromise.

The proposed amendments, said Commissioner Catherine Sandoval, "are a great step in the right direction, but we need to go further."

Another commissioner, Mark Ferron, said he respected Padilla's good faith in writing the bill but questioned whether "SB 1161 is a solution in search of a problem."

marc.lifsher@latimes.com

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Internet phone service bill advances in California Senate

Outer Critics Circle Awards Presented By Josh Gad, James Earl Jones, Montego Glover and More May 24

Outer Critics Circle Awards Presented By Josh Gad, James Earl Jones, Montego Glover and More May 24

By Andrew Gans 24 May 2012

The 62nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards, honoring the best of Broadway and Off-Broadway, will be presented May 24 at 4 PM at Sardi's Restaurant in Manhattan.

Presenters include Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Josh Gad, Montego Glover, Jon Robin Baitz, James Corden, Tracie Bennett, Audra McDonald, James Earl Jones, Michael McGrath and Judy Kaye.

Winners were announced May 14. Once, the new musical based on the film of the same name, and the London import One Man, Two Guvnors each won three awards apiece, the most of any production of the season.

Jeff Talbott's acclaimed Off-Broadway, race-themed play, The Submission, was awarded the John Gassner Award, which is presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright.

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Winners follow (winners are in bold, preceded by an asterisk):

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY The Lyons *One Man, Two Guvnors Seminar Stick Fly

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL Bonnie & Clyde Newsies *Once Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

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Outer Critics Circle Awards Presented By Josh Gad, James Earl Jones, Montego Glover and More May 24