“Unlike television programming, which comes with viewing guides, DVR reminders and weekly picks from all manner of media, the Netflix instant universe is a largely uncharted, Byzantine library prone to aimless clicking and haphazard double features.”
Tag: 01.08.12
Straddling The Worlds Of Science And The Arts – And Having A Damn Good Time
John Brockman, a literary agent for scientists, has one foot in the world of science and one foot in the world of the humanities – and on his site, Edge.org, he gets big thinkers to talk about big ideas.
Before DNA, Before RNA, There Was TNA (Not To Mention GNA)
What are the basic building blocks of life? The genetic soup of the early Earth still has a lot more to teach us – and that might include yet more nucleic acids for high school students to memorize.
Then We Came To The End – Of The Movie, But Not The Story
Lots of new films sport ambiguous endings. Why? What did the filmmakers intend – and can audiences deal with the ambiguity?
Tips From Great Authors – For Home Decoration
“In choosing accent pieces, opt for bright colors and transcend the dreary blandness of Mary and Tyrone’s summer house in ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night.’ Shop smart and avoid the look of lifeless rot that made Tyrone feel detached from his surroundings and indifferent to his wife’s morphine addiction. If despair persists, avoid mirrors.”
Time For A New Slavery Memorial At The U.N.? Jamaica Says Yes
“Over five centuries, more than 18 million people were forcibly removed from Africa to the Americas, Caribbean and Europe.” Can the Jamaican ambassador to the U.N. convince the U.S. and corporate sponsors to get a new memorial built?
Open Up That New E-Reader, And Buy Like Mad – E-Sales Surge After The Holidays
One recent bestseller list showed that 42 of the topselling 50 books sold more in e-books than in print, thanks to the millions of new e-readers that came as gifts over the holidays.
Fair Use Is, Actually, Fairly Fair – And Here’s Why
Despite what some copyright lawyers would like to think, fair use is pretty good for creative types: “Without fair use, it would be impossible to write a negative book review, or compare Shakespeare to the Simpsons. Without fair use, it becomes just about impossible to have a thoughtful discussion about anything that’s been published since you were born.”
Empires! OK, We Don’t Want Them Back, But Can We Learn From Them?
“Examining the trajectories of empires — their creations, conflicts, rivalries, successes and failures — reminds us of something we have forgotten: that sovereignty in the past, and in many areas today, is complex, divided, layered and configured on a variety of founding principles and practices.”
Lockout May Spell Doom For New York City Opera
Is it all over for New York City Opera? Talks between the unions and management have led to rehearsal lockouts – and that will harm at least the first planned production, if not the entire season, for the struggling company.