“Publishing executives said the word-of-mouth excitement accompanying Fifty Shades of Grey was reminiscent of that accompanying novels like The Da Vinci Code, The Kite Runner and Eat, Pray, Love. Except this book has been credited with something else: introducing women who usually read run-of-the-mill literary or commercial fiction to graphic, heavy-breathing erotica. “
Tag: 03.10.12
Artist Damien Hirst On Himself, Those Spot Paintings, And Much More
On his first spot painting: “I stuck it outside behind a barn. Millicent [Wilner] from Gagosian came down to visit and she was freaking out: ‘Why have you put it there? In the rain! Jesus Christ, Damien!’ It was like gold because it was me, but, really, it’s shit.”
Google Plans Yet Another Social Network – With An Evil Moustache, No Less
“Schemer learns what sort of stuff you’re into, and will serve up activities based on your past preferences and locations. And it’s both web and mobile app-based (as evidenced by our devious little Android above), so location can follow your mobile check-ins.” Blah blah check-ins … but wait: It’s integrated with (the also anemic) Google Plus.
Artist John Constable Loved “Going Skying,” But He Wasn’t Alone
What, exactly, might the 10 best skies in art history be? The Observer tells us – and while some on the list will be no-brainers, others might surprise you.
Take As Much Vacation As You Want! (You Won’t, Because You’ll Be Too Busy Making Yourself Work)
“Unlimited vacation fosters productivity and loyalty because it favors results over input.” Turns out that when people have that much choice, they choose to work ridiculously hard – so hard that they have to be forced to take vacation.
New Artistic Director At Stratford Looks Exactly Like The Current Executive Director
That’s because he’s the same guy: Antoni Cimolino. This is “an earlier transfer of power than originally expected, as current artistic director Des McAnuff will now be leaving a year ahead of schedule.”
Wait A Second: Who Should Control E-Book Pricing? A Debate
Two tech/book reporters duke it out over Amazon, agency pricing and that antitrust lawsuit. (And what happens if Amazon is the only bookstore left?)
Artist Ed Moses: Still Crackling, And Obsessed, At (Almost) 86
“What I do has to do with trying different things, and every once in a while out there in right field or left field something happens. I used to try to ignore that because I was directed. I felt you had to be disciplined. Then finally I realized I’ve never had any discipline. I work out of obsession.”
The Rock: Off The Road, And At The Museum, To Crowd Approval
“The 340-ton boulder — still shrink-wrapped, lighted with string lights and resting in a steel sling on its custom transporter — pulled up to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art at exactly 4:25 a.m., as planned.” More than 500 people were waiting for it and cheering it on.
What’s In A Domain Name? (Aside From Money)
Writer Delia Ephron’s domain name goes mysterious – and it takes an international effort to even think about getting it back.