A new book says yes. Historian Tom Holland “says that while there’s no doubt some historical accuracy in the sources for early Islam, those documents are more likely to be reflecting conditions at the time of their writing in the ninth and 10th centuries.”
Tag: 06.03.12
Controversy Revisited As Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ Turns 25
The album defined South African township sound for a generation – but along with its success at getting the word out about black musicians came Simon’s deliberate choice to ignore a cultural boycott, not to mention accusations of appropriation. What do we think now, a quarter-century later?
Everything Old Is New Again – Including A Career As A Blacksmith
“Blacksmithing is an ancient trade that, like other crafts, saw a downturn during the Industrial Revolution, when machines took over jobs that humans once did. Now, blacksmithing is having a small revival as smiths build new ways of connecting with customers.”
Previews Can Change Everything – Including Financial Success – For Off-Broadway Plays
“The stakes are so high for these productions that some major Off Broadway companies schedule more previews than the so-called regular performances that follow opening night. And the theater companies, which are nonprofit organizations, do so at a financial cost: Many seats at previews are discounted, and production costs are often higher during previews because the creative team and crew are on hand — and drawing salaries — to incorporate script or technical changes before critics come.”
Does Amazon’s Kindle Have Any Weaknesses At All? (Maybe)
“At the moment, no e-reader on the market matches the Kindle, but its store is uninspiring, and its algorithm-led attempts to chum up to users are terrible. Anyone who can produce a good e-reader and back it up with an engaging community for book lovers could take on both Amazon and the pirates, if publishers are bold about ditching DRM technology.”
Dancing For The Queen Required A Little Education From The Dancers
“The monarchy flew [11 Native American dancers] over for two weeks in May, but the dream trip turned a bit nightmarish when they checked out the program that billed their act as ‘Cowboys and Injuns.’ They would perform after a specialty rodeo act, with cowgirls doing roping stunts, and dance to canned, cliché Indian music plucked from old Western movies.”
The T.V. Business, Like Print Newspapers, Isn’t Long For This World
“We still consume some TV content, but we consume it when and where we want it, and we consume it deliberately: In other words, we don’t settle down in front of the TV and watch ‘what’s on.’ And, again with the exception of live sports, we’ve gotten so used to watching shows and series without ads that ads now seem extraordinarily intrusive and annoying. Our kids see TV ads so rarely that they’re actually curious about and confused by them: ‘What is that? A commercial?’ For now, our type of household may still be in the minority, but we won’t be for long.”