“The wartime demand for books was prodigious and paradoxical. The leisured read less, and the hardest-working read more. Where British firms could not meet the demand, publishing began to flourish in Australia, Canada and India.”
Tag: 02.11.09
Maybe You Really Can Judge A Person By His Face
“The idea that a person’s character can be glimpsed in their face dates back to the ancient Greeks. […] Now the field is undergoing something of a revival. Researchers around the world are re-evaluating what we see in a face, investigating whether it can give us a glimpse of someone’s personality or even help to shape their destiny. What is emerging is a ‘new physiognomy’ which is more subtle but no less fascinating than its old incarnation.”
Iraqi National Museum, Badly Looted After Invasion, To Reopen
“The long-awaited reopening marks a milestone in the government’s efforts to retrieve and preserve artifacts and archaeological sites from Iraq’s history after almost six years of theft, destruction and violence. […] Officials have since struggled to rebuild the museum’s collection, recouping about a third of what was looted.”
Rod Blagojevich, The Musical (It’s A One-Act)
“‘Rod Blagojevich Superstar!’ is Second City’s ripped-from-the-headlines, rushed-to-the-stage, ready-for-potential-touring parody. Combining the disgraced governor’s grandiosity with the musical flavors of ’70s rock operas like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ the show probably has a limited audience of political junkies and a pretty short shelf life.” Or, given the prospect of a trial, maybe not so short.
It’s The Anonymous Arts Workers Whose Jobs Are At Risk
“Why are so many blind to the simple reality that arts workers are real workers? I chalk it up to our celebrity culture. Funding for theater? Tim Robbins doesn’t need money! Funding for art museums? Jeff Koons is rich! Funding for concert halls? Yo-Yo Ma is a superstar! The glare of the celebrity spotlight obscures our view of the ticket-taker at Robbins’ play trying to make ends meet….”
Going Down: Muzak Files For Bankruptcy Protection
“Muzak Holdings, the maker of background music heard in elevators, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday. The company had a heavy debt load, and it filed to try to refinance some of its debt. In a court filing, the company listed its total debt at $100 million to $500 million.”
New Box-Office Angle: Cheap Tix, 3 PM Buying Deadline
“The latest recession-era sales strategy for hawking Broadway and Off Broadway tickets: Impulse buys. Discount theater website BroadwayBox.com recently launched LunchTix, which every weekday morning emails members with a low-price ticket offer that expires at 3 p.m. that day.”
Can A Computer Program Keep Frank Gehry On Budget?
With a powerful (and expensive) software package called Digital Project, “fabricators have produced a façade with various textures at a price that Mr. Gehry says does not exceed what a developer would pay to build a conventional boxy building of similar dimensions.”
William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet
“No, you are not hallucinating. The documentary William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet concerns the attempt [by choreographer Margo Sappington] to create a ballet based on Shatner’s 2004 album Has Been[, made with singer Ben Folds].” The movie gets its world premiere this April at the Nashville Film Festival.
Concert Assn. Of Florida Headed For Bankruptcy
Less than two years after founder Judy Drucker was pushed into retirement, South Florida’s only major presenter of top-level touring classical and dance artists appears certain to shut down. CAF’s board chairman is trying to get the Broward and Arsht Centers to take over the season’s remaining events.