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"I'm really glad the family is doing this," said Steven D. Lavine, president of the California Institute of the Arts, of which Walt Disney and his brother, Roy, were co-founders. "People who want to take potshots at pop culture often focus on him, and the depth and profundity of his work can really get missed as a result."
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Museums designed to burnish reputations rarely succeed, except in the minds of the organizers. Often sneered at as vanity projects, they typically steer so clear of anything controversial or unflattering that the public grows suspicious of the positive parts of the story.
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"I told her, 'There are things that you might not want to hear about your father, but we don't want to ignore them,"' Benefield continued. "Putting out the whole story will be very meaningful. It will debunk some of these wild myths, like that he was frozen when he died. Totally untrue."
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The Walt Disney Family Museum, to be run by the former deputy director of the Harvard University Art Museums, Richard Benefield, will open in October in San Francisco. On Wednesday the institution will introduce its exhibition plans and holdings, which range from personal items (home movies never shown before) to "Steamboat Willie" animation cels.
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"My kids have literally encountered people who didn't know that my father was a person," said Miller, who has seven children with her husband, Ronald. "They think he's just some kind of corporate logo."
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Thus the museum. Financed by the family's foundation and the sale of bonds, it aims to refocus attention on the man behind the myth by telling his life story, from humble beginnings in rural Missouri to a stint driving an ambulance in World War I to his fascination with utopian ideas. The work, of course, is also there, including an exhibit on the making of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Hollywood's first feature-length animated film, including the actual Academy Awards it received, a full-size Oscar and seven tiny ones.
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"It all started with a nasty book and my frustration with how reporters all around the world picked it up," said Diane Disney Miller in an interview. Miller, Disney's sole surviving child, was referring to "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince," a 1994 biography by Marc Eliot that depicted him as a bigot.
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So the museum will include, for example, a video about Disney's friendly testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947 and will pay attention to the bitter animators' strike against him in 1941.
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Miller, 75, said she was also dismayed by "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination," a 2006 biography by Neal Gabler that included an unflattering look at his marriage. Unlike Eliot's book, which has been dismissed by some historians, Gabler's work benefited from full cooperation with the family and the Walt Disney Co.
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"We need to be vigilant and stay on you like white on rice," Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said in response to the executives' insistence that their company had done nothing wrong.
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In their testimony Tuesday, Hemsley and Slavitt acknowledged a potential conflict of interest in the databases ownership by a health insurer. Hemsley also expressed regret that the company had not been clearer in disclosing its ties to Ingenix. But the two executives denied any wrongdoing and dismissed concerns that the information was in any way skewed to underpay doctors and lawyers.
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McCaskill told the executives that the public took a skeptical view of health insurers. "People think they are getting a raw deal," she said.
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"We would not have signed an agreement that contained accusations of fraud," Slavitt said.
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"This is profoundly troubling testimony from both of you," he said.
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This year, the Ingenix database and its use in determining out-of-network payments came under scrutiny by New York's attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo. He reached a settlement with UnitedHealth in which the company agreed to spin off its databases into an independent entity.
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At the end of the hearing, Rockefeller indicated he would continue his committee's investigation, including asking insurers that were not part of the New York settlement about their own methods of calculating out-of-network claims and whether they planned to use the new, independent database.
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The UnitedHealth officials appearing were its chief executive, Stephen J. Hemsley, and Andy M. Slavitt, who heads UnitedHealth's database business, Ingenix.
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UnitedHealth also reached a $350 million agreement to settle private litigation surrounding its payment of out-of-network claims, but that settlement has not yet received court approval.
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Cuomo's investigation concluded that Ingenix had been responsible for underpayments to customers of as much as 28 percent in New York state. The investigation also raised questions about the quality of the database's information.
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He also expressed disappointment in the unwillingness of the two executives to acknowledge consumers' concerns about whether they were being shortchanged.
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Besides its size -- it was the third-largest tax-exempt bond sale ever in the United States -- the sale was notable because it could set the table for other states to follow California's lead and increase their bond yields. The higher yields are intended to drum up interest among tepid investors and keep the state's infrastructure projects going.
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In a piece of good news for the state's battered economy, the sale will allow the revival of long-awaited public works projects.
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"Because they were able to sell that much, that means we had additional proceeds to apply to the projects," said H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the California Department of Finance.
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The California treasurer, Bill Lockyer, had planned to sell $4 billion in bonds over the course of three days last week. But Lockyer found that the state was able to peddle $6.5 billion worth in just two days even though its bond rating has taken a hammering in recent months, making it among the lowest in the nation.
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California offered 6.1 percent yields on the 30-year bonds last week, compared with 5.3 percent yields on similar issues last June. Wisconsin also recently raised its yields to generate interest.
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California had been all but shut out of the credit markets this winter as the Legislature struggled to close $41 billion in budget shortfalls, causing the governor to shut down projects across the state. A budget agreement was reached in February.
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The state intends to sell more bonds this spring, and if institutional investors continue to see tasty yields, it could lead to more bond sales generally, Fabian said.
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The goal, Palmer said, was to balance the financial needs of current projects with those the state would like to start in an effort to create and maintain employment, while still taking some of the proceeds to pay bills. "The good news," he said, "is we can get back in the infrastructure game."
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But $5.8 billion of California's fragile budget deal is dependent on measures that must be approved by voters next month. If those measures fail, lawmakers and the governor will have to dig back into the budget, which could cause the rates to increase more. That is why, Fabian theorized, the state chose to make such a large sale.
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The "likelihood is that yields will get higher," he said. "California is being realistic about their own credit forecast."
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"Hopefully this is a trend, because the muni market will get healthier and become more liquid," he said.
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Several airline unions mounted an unsuccessful legal effort to offset that shortfall with 388 million Canadian dollars in cash held by ACE Aviation Holdings, Air Canada's parent company. ACE is in the process of redeeming its shares and liquidating itself.
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Air Canada is facing a cash shortfall and increasing competition on crucial routes from its smaller domestic rival, WestJet. It also has pension problems and is facing contract talks with its unions.
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The decision to replace the executive, Monte Brewer, with Calin Rovinescu, who earlier led a restructuring operation at the company, has fueled speculation that Air Canada might seek bankruptcy protection for the second time in six years.
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In an unexpected move, Air Canada removed its president and chief executive Monday night.
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Those factors led some analysts to speculate that another bankruptcy filing was likely even before the change in management. Last week, Ben Cherniavsky, an airline analyst with Raymond James, wrote in a note to investors that the odds of Air Canada getting through its current problems without another reorganization were "about 50/50 at best."
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Among the problems facing Rovinescu is Air Canada's pension shortfall, which was 3.2 billion Canadian dollars at the beginning of the year. The company estimates that it will be required to contribute 866 million Canadian dollars to the fund during 2009.
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Air Canada offered no explanation for the management change in a statement released late Monday. In it, Brewer described his successor as "the right person to take the company forward at this time."
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In recent interviews with the Canadian news media, Brewer, an American who had led the airline since 2004, indicated that he planned to lead the airline out of its financial straits.
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It is Hazleton, Pa., not Hazelton.
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He is Levance Fields, not Field.
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30) A New York Times News Service article about colleges looking more favorably on wealthy applicants referred incorrectly to a pledge by Grinnell College to limit the amount of loans that students must pay back after graduation.
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30) The byline for a New York Times News Service interview with P.
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27) A New York Times News Service article about reaction in Pennsylvania to a scandal in which two judges sent thousands of juveniles to two private detention centers in exchange for $2.6 million in kickbacks misspelled the hometown of one of the judges.
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Claudia Dreifus conducted the interview.
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ST-ANDREWS-WOMEN (moved Mar.
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Because of an editing error, the article also misstated the potential effect of the shot.
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It would have given Pittsburgh the victory; it would not have sent the game into overtime.
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Date refers to the original article's transmission by the New York Times News Service and will need to be adjusted.) COLLEGES-ADMISSIONS (moved Mar.
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SCI-PENGUIN-EXPERT (moved Mar.
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28) A New York Times News Service article about Villanova's 78-76 victory over Pittsburgh in the NCAA men's basketball tournament misspelled the surname of the Pittsburgh player who missed a 70-foot shot at the buzzer.
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The article also misstated the name of the Protestant college Ms.
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PA-CORRUPT-JUDGES (moved Mar.
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The college promises that no student will graduate with more than $2,000 a year in loans -- not a total of $2,000 in loans.
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Andrews in Scotland, the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world, misstated the publication year of a book she cited in her installation ceremony last week as an example of how women have advanced.
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The book, by John Knox, a St.
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It is Trinity College Dublin, not "Trinity University in Dublin." BKC-PITT-VILLANOVA (moved Mar.
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"You've just got to keep teaching and looking for players who want to play in the NHL. It's easy decisions when you look at guys not competing.
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When you're trailing 1-0 in the first period and get one shot in 2:34 of continuous power-play time, including 1:26 five-on-three.
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How about when an opponent scores by deflecting a puck shot so hard, it knocks the stick out of his hand?
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But it will stick in Tocchet's mind.
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"When you have 20 guys working hard, you're like, 'Wow, we have to make choices.' Right now, I don't think we have to make many choices, to be honest with you."
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How do you know it's not your night?
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Chuck Kobasew scored that way for the Bruins Tuesday night in their 3-1 victory over the Lightning at TD Banknorth Garden; the puck, blasted by defenseman Zdeno Chara, bounced over the shoulder of goaltender Mike McKenna.
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The coach said players lagged competing for pucks and position. There was improvement from Sunday's awful loss to the Senators. Still, the Lightning was outshot 39-25, outhit 21-18 and blocked just four shots.
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When Steven Stamkos' 20th goal with 7:53 left is not so much something to celebrate as to be thankful it snapped Tampa Bay's scoreless streak of 129 minutes, 8 seconds.
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Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristoderosptimes.com
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When you outshoot an opponent 3-1 to start the game, but end the period outshot 10-4.
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BOSTON How do you know it's not your night?
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When two power-play goals allowed means you have given up eight in four games, and a 0-for-5 power play means you're 0-for-14.
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"I've seen it all this year," Tampa Bay coach Rick Tocchet said. "We can do a David Letterman top 10; that might be No. 5."
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When captain Vinny Lecavalier plays his fifth straight game without a point and has zero shots for the second time in that stretch.
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Second Period2, Boston, Chara 17 (Bergeron, Krejci), 6:56 (pp). 3, Boston, Kobasew 20 (Chara, Krejci), 13:35 (pp). PenaltiesArtyukhin, TB (high-sticking), 6:31; Wheeler, Bos (goaltender interference), 7:26; Petiot, TB (hooking), 13:16; Petiot, TB, major (fighting), 16:21; Hunwick, Bos (high-sticking), 16:21; Bitz, Bos, major (fighting), 16:21; Melichar, TB, served by Artyukhin, minor-major (elbowing, fighting), 19:48; Lucic, Bos, major (fighting), 19:48.
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The Bruins complimented Tampa Bay for hanging in there. But Tocchet said, "Losing is losing. Right now we're taking our licks."
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In that context, the Lightning's seventh loss in eight games will fade into the woodwork as the team (24-36-17) grinds through its final five.
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"It's always frustrating to lose," defenseman Matt Lashoff said. "But at this stage, you learn a lot about yourself and each other as teammates. You learn a lot about desire."
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