New Mexico State University ranks #17 in nation for animation programs
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) — New Mexico State University is ranking high on the list of best animation programs in the nation. According to the university, Animation Career Review evaluated more than 200 college programs across the US and ranked NMSU's animation and visual effects program as the 17th best in the nation.
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That ranking is based on factors including academic reputation, admission selectivity, graduation rate, and employment data. This comes as the university says since 2018, the number of animation majors has grown by 40%, and the number of degrees awarded has risen by 50%. You can find more information on the NMSU website.
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New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Billy Joel reveals he tried to ‘end it all' with two suicide attempts after affair with best friend's wife
He was an angry young man. In his new documentary, 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' — which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday night – the piano man, 76, opened up about a dark time in his past. When he was in his early 20s, Joel was in a band called Attila with his then-best friend, Jon Small. 10 Billy Joel and wife Elizabeth Weber circa 1981 in New York City. Getty Images During that time, Joel fell in love with Elizabeth Weber, who was Small's then-wife. Joel attempted suicide over the affair – twice. 'I was just in a lot of pain .. so I just thought I'd end it all,' he said on-screen. 10 Billy Joel performs on stage at the MCG on 10th December 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. WireImage After surviving, he quipped, 'You can't even do yourself in.' The 'Uptown Girl' singer has previously revealed his suicide attempt as early as 1990, but he went into more detail in the documentary. 'Bill and I spent a lot of time together,' Elizabeth shared in the doc. Small recalled that Joel told him, 'I'm in love with your wife.' 10 Billy Joel and drummer Jon Small of the rock band 'Attila' pose for a portrait in 1970. Michael Ochs Archives 'I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel said. The 'Vienna' singer added, 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' In the fallout, Attila broke up, their friendship ended for a long time, and Joel had a downward spiral. 10 Elizabeth Weber and Sean Weber-Small attend the 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' Opening Night Premiere at Beacon Theatre on June 04, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival 10 Billy Joel with Elizabeth Weber in 1979. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 'I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he said. The 'Only the Good Die Young' singer added, 'So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all.' His sister, Judy Molinari, was working as a medical assistant at the time and gave him sleeping pills. 10 Billy Joel attends MSG Entertainment and Billy Joel special franchise announcement at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images 'Billy decided that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days,' she said in the documentary. She emotionally recalled, 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I'd killed him.' The 'We Didn't Start The Fire' hitmaker said that he was 'very selfish' at the time. 10 Billy Joel with his wife Alexis Roderick and daughters Della Rose Joel and Remy Anne Joel attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. FilmMagic 10 Billy Joel, at home in front of some of his gold discs, New York City, 25th January 1978. Getty Images He recalled waking up in the hospital thinking he wanted to do it again — but this time 'right.' The next time, he drank a bottle of 'lemon Pledge,' Molinari said. Small took him to the hospital, which ultimately caused the two men to mend fences. 10 Billy Joel circa 1969. Redferns 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. Small explained, 'He never really said anything to me, the only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually I forgave him.' Following his suicide attempts, Joel got back together with Weber, who went on to become his manager. They were married from 1973 to 1982. She was the first of his four wives. His other exes include Christie Brinkley, Katie Lee, and his current wife, Alexis Roderick, whom he married in 2015. 10 Billy Joel appears on SiriusXM with John Mayer at SiriusXM Studios on October 11, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images for SiriusXM Meanwhile, Small took the high road after Weber inspired Joel's 1971 debut, 'Cold Spring Harbor.' 'You could tell from the lyrics that he was really in love with Elizabeth,' Small said of songs such as 'She's Got a Way.' The music legend was absent from his big night after revealing his shocking brain disorder diagnosis two weeks ago. However, Weber was in attendance. The two-part documentary will premiere on HBO and HBO Max at an unannounced date later this summer. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Billy Joel's ex-wife Elizabeth Weber speaks out after his brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel's first ex-wife, Elizabeth Weber, has broken her silence following the iconic musician's shocking brain disorder diagnosis. The 'Uptown Girl' hitmaker, who was married to Weber from 1973 to 1982, revealed last month that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Following the diagnosis, Weber reflected on the pair's ill-fated marriage — saying that she always knew the so-called Piano Man would become a star. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' Weber told E! News at the Tribeca Festival premiere of 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' in NYC on Wednesday. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' While the 5-time Grammy winner, 76, wasn't in attendance at the glitzy premiere, his wife Alexis Roderick Joel, 43, was there in his place. 'I just want him to be restored to good health so he can enjoy his life and his wife and his children. He earned that,' Weber said of her ex-husband. 'The restoration of his good health is all I really care about.' Although their union crumbled after just seven years, Weber told the outlet that she still admires his work deeply, to the point where she finds it difficult to choose a favorite track. 'There's too many of them, and they're all marvelous,' she said. 'Someone can be in the audience and look at him and say, 'That could be me.'' 'Not everybody can be an unnamed pianist who sings, but everyone thinks that they could do that or be that,' she added. The 'New York State of Mind' musician canceled all his tour dates through next year after he announced his diagnosis. The rare disorder, which reportedly affects about 0.2% of people between the ages of 70 and 80, occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull, presses on the brain and disrupts cognitive functioning. 'Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH),' the 'Only the Good Die Young' crooner's team said in a lengthy Instagram announcement on May 23. 'This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,' it continued. 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.' 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience,' his team added, 'and thank you for understanding.' Following the news, his wife Alexis broke her silence on the diagnosis, thanking fans for the 'outpouring of love and support.' 'We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.' Earlier this week, Howard Stern shared a positive update on his longtime pal's well-being. During an episode of SiriusXM's 'The Howard Stern Show' Tuesday, the 71-year-old shock jock insisted that the crooner is 'not dying.' 'I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago,' he told co-host Robin Quivers. 'We had dinner together.' 'Yeah, he does have issues,' Stern continued. 'But he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he's gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.'
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Billy Joel opens up about affair that led to two suicide attempts
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Billy Joel is sharing the most haunting chapter of his life – a chapter that nearly silenced his music forever. The "Piano Man" singer, who is currently battling a brain disorder, revealed in the first part of his documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," what led him to attempt suicide twice and fall into a coma. When the musician was in his early 20s, Joel was part of a small band called Attila with his best friend Jon Small. At the time, he moved in with Small, his wife, Elizabeth Weber and their son, according to People. "Bill and I spent a lot of time together," Weber confessed in the documentary, according to People. She added that their friendship was gradual and a "slow build." Joel eventually told his best friend, "I'm in love with your wife." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel admitted in the documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday. "I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset." "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker." The betrayal not only ended Joel and Small's friendship at the time but also dissolved their band, Attila. Consumed by guilt and depression, Joel's personal and professional life unraveled, as he began to spiral. "I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats, and I was depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic," Joel said in the documentary. So, I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out? Tomorrow is going to be just like today is, and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all." Joel's sister shared in the film that she was working as a medical assistant and gave him sleeping pills to help with the restless nights. "But Billy decided that he was going to take all of them … he was in a coma for days and days and days," she emotionally said. "I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I'd killed him." While Joel acknowledged that he had been "very selfish" during the tumultuous time, he recalled his first thought when he woke up from his coma was that he wanted to attempt suicide again. During Joel's second attempt at suicide, he ingested "lemon Pledge," a furniture polish. Miraculously, he survived both attempts, after his friend Small rushed him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Joel explained in the documentary. His friend Small added, "He never really said anything to me. The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually, I forgave him." Following the second suicide attempt, Joel shared that he had felt like a "lost soul" and admitted himself to an "observation ward." There, he confronted his inner demons and began the long road to recovery. The singer called the experience life-changing and was released several weeks later. "I got out of the observation ward, and I thought to myself, 'You can utilize all those emotions to channel that stuff into music,'" Joel said. Joel and Weber reconnected and eventually tied the knot years after the affair. The couple were together from 1973 until 1982.
