strange coordinates and lines

I keep seeing the name 'Ratner' in connection with the Fantastic Flopping Vanity Movie - he's the director? - and apparently he is not the same Ratner who crashed the value of a chain of jewellers in the early 1990s:

Ratner made a speech addressing a conference of the Institute of Directors at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 April 1991. During the speech, he commented:

We also do cut-glass sherry decanters complete with six glasses on a silver-plated tray that your butler can serve you drinks on, all for £4.95. People say, "How can you sell this for such a low price?", I say, "because it's total crap."

He compounded this by going on to remark that one of the sets of earrings was "cheaper than a prawn sandwich from Marks and Spencer's, but I have to say the sandwich will probably last longer than the earrings". Ratner made a guest appearance on TV chat show Wogan the day after his speech, where he apologised and explained his joking remark that some of his company's products were "total crap". Ratner's comments have become textbook examples of why CEOs should choose their words carefully. In the furore that ensued, customers stayed away from Ratner shops.
After the speech, the value of the Ratner Group plummeted by around £500 million, which very nearly resulted in the group's collapse.

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In happier business, there's a charming piece here by Jackie French (author of Diary of a Wombat about her real-life relationship with wombats, in particular the one who was the inspiration for the book.

A factoid exploded:

I hear her snort each time someone declares that wombat droppings are square. (They can be – but only when their food is dry. When it’s lush grass, they’re long and green.)