Latest news with #Spark
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Electric Spark by Frances Wilson review: 'illuminating and enjoyable'
Muriel Spark pictured in 1960 | Getty Images Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Almost 50 years ago I wrote a small book about Muriel Spark for a small Edinburgh Press. It was a study of her novels, and she liked, or at least quite liked it, partly because there was almost nothing of a biographical nature - she had a high sense of her right to privacy. Later, we became friendly. I met her when she came to Edinburgh with her friend Penelope Jardine, and she invited me to visit them at their Italian home, an invitation I never took up. Much later she selected a biographer, Martin Stannard, whose biography of Evelyn Waugh she had found good, but the relationship wasn't happy and she disliked his book. Now, 20 years after her death, there is a new, rich and well researched biography by Frances Wilson. Muriel Spark pictured in 1960 | Getty Images It is intelligent and for the most part both illuminating and enjoyable, although I don't suppose Spark would have liked it either. Though the novels are discussed, a few in detail, many are more or less ignored, only those drawing more immediately on her life getting extensive treatment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The story of her childhood and youth in Edinburgh will be well known to Scotsman readers. It was the city that formed her and she wrote her novels in an Edinburgh tone of voice. She never lived in the city after her early and unhappy marriage, which took her to what was then Rhodesia, yet you still heard the Edinburgh tone. She said she wrote her novels on the "nevertheless" principle: that may be so; nevertheless it may not. The marriage broke up and in 1944 she returned to Britain, leaving her four year-old son Robin in a convent. She retrieved him after the war and took him to Edinburgh to be brought up by her parents. She supported his care, from her meagre earnings, but they were never close and in her late years there was a very public quarrel when Robin was angered by her insistence that she wasn't entirely Jewish. Wilson discusses this sad business fairly and at length. Muriel Spark in 1983 | Getty Images In London, Spark worked first in a department of the Foreign Office which dealt with counter-espionage. Wilson says she was actively engaged in this herself, but, since she worked there for only the last months of the war, I have my doubts. What is certain, however, is that spies of one sort or another feature repreatedly in her novels. The subject fascinated her. She had a magpie's eye for possibilities. For some years she collaborated with her lover Derek Stanford on biographies and criticism. They talked of marriage, but fell out. Then she wrote her first novel, The Comforters, highly praised by Evelyn Waugh. She was on her way. Others followed in quick succession, notably The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, though my own favourite of these early books is Memento Mori. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Wilson pays a lot of attention to the split with Stanford and the memoirs he wrote which infuriated Spark. I never knew Stanford, though for some years we shared fiction reviewing duties in the Scotsman. Robert Nye, our lead reviewer, said he was "a nice old thing." Spark's success was remarkable. Rather like Byron, she rose in the morning and found herself famous.
Spectator
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
‘I secreted a venom which spurted out indiscriminately'
In 1995, Dame Muriel Spark, then one of Britain's most distinguished living writers, was interviewed for a BBC documentary. During filming, the show's editor commented that 'her biographer must be the most depressed man in England'. Three years earlier, Spark had personally anointed Martin Stannard as the writer of what she intended to be the authorised version of her life, presenting him with the vast archive of documentation – spanning 50 years and 50 metres – gathered at her home in Arezzo. 'Treat me as if I were dead,' she instructed him. Stannard understood this to mean that he should proceed as a traditional historian; by the time his hag-ridden book was published 17 years later he had learned his mistake. The construction of biography assumes a certain orderliness in its subjects, the author's task being to summarise, arrange and analyse the facts of their existence; but Spark had never been much interested in doing anything so ordinary as living. Hers was not so much a life as a plot, and Stannard, unwittingly, was written into it. Frances Wilson is a ferociously clever writer, and with Spark as her subject she needs to be. Taking Spark's feud with Stannard as its catalyst, her biography of 'the loneliest and most singular figure on the 20th-century literary landscape' grapples with the process by which Muriel Spark created her greatest work of art, 'Muriel Spark'; a writer who in a (discarded) author's note on her most celebrated novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961) declared: 'It has always been my intention to practise the arts of pretence and counterfeit on the reader.
International Business Times
3 days ago
- Business
- International Business Times
Revolutionizing Media & Entertainment: The Industry Leading Approach By Raghavendra Sridhar
Unlock the Future of Media with AI, Multi-Cloud, and Big Data-Powered by Expertise Step into the next era of media and entertainment, where innovation meets impact. With 20 years of pioneering expertise, Raghavendra Sridhar is at the forefront of transforming the industry, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, multi-cloud solutions, and big data to drive growth, engagement, and operational excellence. AI-Driven Personalization: Captivate Every Audience AI-powered strategies deliver hyper-personalized content recommendations and marketing campaigns that keep viewers engaged and coming back for more. By analyzing user behavior and preferences, his solutions enable streaming platforms and publishers to: Serve up tailored content and ads, boosting viewer satisfaction and loyalty Increase subscription renewals and drive millions in additional revenue Automate content production, reducing time-to-market and cutting costs Just like industry leaders Netflix and Spotify, AI systems predict trends and personalize the user journey, ensuring brands stay always ahead of the curve. These solutions not only elevate the viewing experience but also empower content creators to experiment with new formats and storytelling techniques, confident that data-driven insights will guide their creative decisions. Multi-Cloud Mastery: Scale Without Limits Break free from single-cloud constraints. multi-cloud architectures empower media companies to: Achieve global scalability and reliability by leveraging AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and more Optimize costs and avoid vendor lock-in Enhance disaster recovery and streamline operations for seamless content delivery This flexibility ensures businesses can expand its reach, reduce overhead, and deliver services more efficiently-fueling both growth and profitability. With multi cloud, companies can rapidly deploy new features, adapt to changing viewer demands, and ensure uninterrupted access to content, regardless of audience location. Big Data Brilliance: Turn Insights into Revenue In today's data-driven world, industry experts like Raghavendra unlock the full potential of big data technologies like Hadoop, Spark, and NoSQL to: Micro-segment audiences for precision ad targeting and increased ROI Analyze vast viewer datasets to inform content creation and marketing strategies Identify new market opportunities and boost advertising revenue With actionable insights available, organizations can make smarter decisions, create more engaging content, and maximize every revenue stream. Big data analytics also enable real-time performance monitoring, allowing rapid optimization and continuous improvement. Continuous Innovation: Stay Ahead, Always A relentless pursuit of innovation ensures businesses are equipped with the latest tools and methodologies. Emerging technologies are integrated seamlessly to keep operations agile and offerings cutting edge. "Innovation, Executed with Expertise"- this is the guiding principle. Raghavendra is constantly evaluating advancements in AI, cloud, and analytics, ensuring his clients benefit from early adoption and sustained competitive advantage. Whether it's implementing next-gen recommendation engines or integrating AI-powered automation into production workflows, a forward-thinking approach keeps businesses future ready. Why Choose This Approach? Proven Impact: Millions in additional revenue generated for leading media brands Millions in additional revenue generated for leading media brands End-to-End Solutions: From data strategy to AI implementation and cloud optimization From data strategy to AI implementation and cloud optimization Future-Ready: Solutions designed to evolve with industry trends and consumer behaviors A consultative approach ensures that every solution is tailored to unique business needs, fostering long term partnerships and delivering measurable results. Shape the Future of Media & Entertainment Don't just keep up lead the transformation. With expertise in AI, multi cloud, and big data, businesses can: Enhance customer experiences Optimize workflows Accelerate growth and profitability Experience the power of innovation. Elevate the media business with cutting-edge technology solutions. "Results Through Revolutionary Tech. Elevating Industry Standards." Let Raghavendra Sridhar help unlock new levels of success in the media and entertainment industry where data-driven innovation meets creative excellence.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Hundreds Of School Students Receive Laptops Through Spark Partnership With Quadrent's Green Lease
Press Release – Spark Through the arrangement with Quadrents Green Lease, Spark leases the laptops its employees use. Once the lease has ended, the laptops are then donated to schools, helping to bridge the digital divide for students without access to essential learning A partnership between Quadrent and Spark has already resulted in hundreds of high school students in South Auckland and Wellington receiving laptops to use at school – with more laptops to be donated over the next four years. Through the arrangement with Quadrent's Green Lease, Spark leases the laptops its employees use. Once the lease has ended, the laptops are then donated to schools, helping to bridge the digital divide for students without access to essential learning tools. Immediate Digital Inclusion Impact To accelerate Spark's donations, Quadrent has bought more than 3,000 laptops from Spark. The proceeds from their resale in the secondary market will fund the purchase more than 800 brand new laptops for donation over the next six months. Four hundred of these have already been delivered to schools. This will provide vital digital resources to up to 30 classrooms, with the first beneficiaries being Papakura High School, Papatoetoe High School, and Māngere College, Mana College, Titahi Bay North School, Porirua College, Manawatu College, and Whare Kura Morehu ō Ratana. Expanding Sustainable Technology Access Long term, Spark is using Quadrent's Green Lease initiative to fund the rollout of new laptops to its employees across New Zealand. By the end of March 2029, Spark will have donated 20% of these high-quality laptops to digital inclusion programmes through the Quadrent Green Lease. Spark's purpose is to help all New Zealanders win big in a digital world 'Our tamariki will live in, create, and lead a world far more digital than it is today, yet for some students, attaining laptop devices required for learning is a barrier,' says Leela Ashford, Corporate Relations and Sustainability Director at Spark. 'That is why we are pleased to partner with Quadrent and participate in their Green Lease initiative to provide the necessary hardware, helping to close the digital access divide.' Ashford adds, 'It also complements Skinny Jump, our subsidised internet access programme, which currently supports over 33,000 homes. More broadly, Spark's charitable trust, the Spark Foundation, continues to support organisations working to close the digital divide through initiatives focusing on digital access, wellbeing, and skills.' Beyond digital inclusion, environmental sustainability and reducing its impact on the natural environment is a key focus of Toitū Sustainability at Spark. 'Our partnership with Quadrent's Green Lease also supports our long-standing programme to reduce e-waste. By recycling our used laptops, we can ensure that technology stays within the system for as long as possible, contributing to a more circular economy,' says Ashford. Quadrent – for a better tomorrow for all Quadrent CEO Martyn Masterson welcomed the partnership, 'The Spark Green Lease rollout is a significant step towards a more sustainable and inclusive digital future in New Zealand. This partnership not only extends the life cycle of technology and reduces e-waste, but it also provides tangible benefits to students who would otherwise go without. 'By shifting from ownership to leasing, Spark is demonstrating true leadership by showcasing how businesses can align financial efficiency with social and environmental impact. 'We're already seeing great results from the Green Lease programme. Last year we donated laptops to Tangaroa College. Its Year 13 PE and Health class saw a lift in attendance from 65% to 85%. Students achieving Merit or higher increased from 17% to 65% and the rate of students receiving a 'Not Achieved' result went from 24% to 0. 'We were thrilled by these results, and we can't wait to see the impact of the latest donations.' Expanding the project Quadrent and Spark are now encouraging other businesses to join the Green Lease programme. Customers who lease laptops from Spark can sign up to the initiative as part of their contract.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Hundreds Of School Students Receive Laptops Through Spark Partnership With Quadrent's Green Lease
Press Release – Spark Through the arrangement with Quadrents Green Lease, Spark leases the laptops its employees use. Once the lease has ended, the laptops are then donated to schools, helping to bridge the digital divide for students without access to essential learning A partnership between Quadrent and Spark has already resulted in hundreds of high school students in South Auckland and Wellington receiving laptops to use at school – with more laptops to be donated over the next four years. Through the arrangement with Quadrent's Green Lease, Spark leases the laptops its employees use. Once the lease has ended, the laptops are then donated to schools, helping to bridge the digital divide for students without access to essential learning tools. Immediate Digital Inclusion Impact To accelerate Spark's donations, Quadrent has bought more than 3,000 laptops from Spark. The proceeds from their resale in the secondary market will fund the purchase more than 800 brand new laptops for donation over the next six months. Four hundred of these have already been delivered to schools. This will provide vital digital resources to up to 30 classrooms, with the first beneficiaries being Papakura High School, Papatoetoe High School, and Māngere College, Mana College, Titahi Bay North School, Porirua College, Manawatu College, and Whare Kura Morehu ō Ratana. Expanding Sustainable Technology Access Long term, Spark is using Quadrent's Green Lease initiative to fund the rollout of new laptops to its employees across New Zealand. By the end of March 2029, Spark will have donated 20% of these high-quality laptops to digital inclusion programmes through the Quadrent Green Lease. Spark's purpose is to help all New Zealanders win big in a digital world 'Our tamariki will live in, create, and lead a world far more digital than it is today, yet for some students, attaining laptop devices required for learning is a barrier,' says Leela Ashford, Corporate Relations and Sustainability Director at Spark. 'That is why we are pleased to partner with Quadrent and participate in their Green Lease initiative to provide the necessary hardware, helping to close the digital access divide.' Ashford adds, 'It also complements Skinny Jump, our subsidised internet access programme, which currently supports over 33,000 homes. More broadly, Spark's charitable trust, the Spark Foundation, continues to support organisations working to close the digital divide through initiatives focusing on digital access, wellbeing, and skills.' Beyond digital inclusion, environmental sustainability and reducing its impact on the natural environment is a key focus of Toitū Sustainability at Spark. 'Our partnership with Quadrent's Green Lease also supports our long-standing programme to reduce e-waste. By recycling our used laptops, we can ensure that technology stays within the system for as long as possible, contributing to a more circular economy,' says Ashford. Quadrent – for a better tomorrow for all Quadrent CEO Martyn Masterson welcomed the partnership, 'The Spark Green Lease rollout is a significant step towards a more sustainable and inclusive digital future in New Zealand. This partnership not only extends the life cycle of technology and reduces e-waste, but it also provides tangible benefits to students who would otherwise go without. 'By shifting from ownership to leasing, Spark is demonstrating true leadership by showcasing how businesses can align financial efficiency with social and environmental impact. 'We're already seeing great results from the Green Lease programme. Last year we donated laptops to Tangaroa College. Its Year 13 PE and Health class saw a lift in attendance from 65% to 85%. Students achieving Merit or higher increased from 17% to 65% and the rate of students receiving a 'Not Achieved' result went from 24% to 0. 'We were thrilled by these results, and we can't wait to see the impact of the latest donations.' Expanding the project Quadrent and Spark are now encouraging other businesses to join the Green Lease programme. Customers who lease laptops from Spark can sign up to the initiative as part of their contract.
