“Stories work in two ways: they either deepen the pathways and associations we already have in our brains, reminding us of what we’ve already learned, or they create new pathways and associations, helping us explore new ideas and possibilities.”
Tag: 06.04.12
Waiting (And Waiting) For Australia’s New Cultural Policy
“Kevin Rudd’s Labor government proposed a new cultural policy in 2007 … Five years, two major reports and almost two federal electoral cycles later and the arts sector is still waiting.”
Amazon.com Buys A Publishing House
“Amazon has acquired Avalon Books, a small publisher that focuses on hardcover mystery, ‘wholesome’ romance and Westerns, and will make its titles available digitally for the first time. … Avalon Books have been geared and marketed primarily toward the library market; now Amazon will seek to market them to a wider audience.”
Slate Makes Podcasts Pay Off, Even As Newspapers Give Up On Them
“Podcast downloads now top 1 million a month, Bowers said, almost double the numbers from 2010. Hundreds of people show up for live tapings of the podcasts and pay for tickets. And they’re apparently a big hit with advertisers, who pay higher rates to advertise in Slate podcasts than any other kind of content.”
The Israeli Singer Who’s Becoming An Underground Superstar In Iran
“Music-loving Iranians craving nostalgic Persian songs of a bygone era, or the upbeat dance music that is banned in their Islamic state, have new darling: Rita, the Israeli singing sensation.” Her Iranian fans “use tricky software to furtively download her songs online. Bootleg CD sellers in the back alley of Tehran’s old bazaar wrap her albums in unmarked packages and hush any inquiries when asked if they sell her music.”
US Stops Funding For Pakistani Version Of “Sesame Street”
“The U.S. has terminated funding for a $20 million project to develop a Pakistani version of Sesame Street, the U.S. Embassy said Tuesday. The decision came as a Pakistani newspaper reported allegations of corruption by the local puppet theatre working on the initiative.”
Europe’s “Screwed” Generation (The Young Are Leaving Or Homeless)
“Increasingly, young Europeans are deciding not to start families–the key to future growth–in reaction to the recession. The stories about divorced Spanish or Italian young fathers sleeping on the streets or in their cars are not exactly a strong advertising for parenthood.”
Julie Taymor Vs. Spider-Man Case Is Now In Court
Though the actual trial of the director’s lawsuit against the producers of the Broadway musical from which she was fired is scheduled to begin next year, “a judge presided over a two-hour preliminary hearing on Friday during which lawyers for both sides spelled out their cases.”
Defenders Of The Queen’s English Close Up Shop For Lack Of Interest
For four decades, the Queen’s English Society “has championed good English – and hasn’t been above the occasional criticism of the Queen’s own pronouncements – but it has finally conceded that it cannot survive in the era of textspeak and Twitter.”
Chilly Interactions (Literally)
“When we talk with someone, we carefully monitor their facial expressions and physical gestures, both consciously and subconsciously. When we don’t see what we expect to see, the situation starts to feel weird. More specifically, according to a new study, it feels chilly.”