Michael Moynihan: “A month ago, when Lehrer’s self-plagiarism scandal emerged, some supporters argued that it was simply the misstep of a young journalist. But making up sources, deceiving a fellow journalist, and offering accounts of films you have never seen and emails never exchanged, is, to crib Bob Dylan, on a whole other level.”
Tag: 07.30.12
NBC Dropped Akram Khan’s Big Dance Number In Olympics Opening Ceremony
“[The] time-delayed broadcast on Friday was missing a crucial segment – a dance tribute created by British choreographer Akram Khan. NBC edited out Khan’s sequence and replaced it with a segment featuring Ryan Seacrest interviewing swimmer Michael Phelps.”
Stradivarius Violin Turned In At Swiss Lost-And-Found Office
“A Stradivarius violin – possibly worth several million euros – was handed in at a Swiss lost-property office after a hapless musician left it on a train … The owner had lent the precious instrument to a musician friend who took it on a train on Friday but forgot it when he got off at Bern … Police did not disclose the names of anyone involved, nor the value of the instrument.”
In Dubai, A Museum Of Women
“The Women’s Museum of the United Arab Emirates is the creation of Rafia Obaid Ghubash, an academic, psychiatrist and former president of the Arabian Gulf University, who campaigns for women’s education. Her aim is to educate visitors – locals, expats and tourists – that Emirati women have enjoyed more power and influence than is recognised.”
Researchers Find New Pleasure Center In The Brain
“The research uncovered that the existing pleasure centers of the brain, which have been established science for decades, actually create desires, not pleasures. Researchers are looking into how the stimulation of the newly discovered hotspots of pleasure can be used to treat mental illness and addiction.”
Peter Jackson’s Hobbit To Be A Trilogy
“Two Hobbit movies are officially becoming three as Peter Jackson and his many Hollywood backers have finalized plans to produce a third movie based on the classic fantasy book and release it in the summer of 2014.”
Pasadena Playhouse Cancels Studio Production Over Play’s Title
“Gina Young, the author of the play, said that the company told her they had problems with the title of the piece” – Tales of a Fourth-Grade Lesbo. “Performances that would have taken place at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre – the company’s approximately 90-seat space – have been called off.”
Where Pianos Go To Die
“The value of used pianos, especially uprights, has plummeted in recent years. So instead of selling them to a neighbor, donating them to a church or just passing them along to a relative, owners are far more likely to discard them, technicians, movers and dealers say. Piano movers are making regular runs to the dump, becoming adept at dismantling instruments, selling parts to artists, even burning them for firewood.”
Scientists Confirm Yet Another Obvious Fact About Pet Ownership
“A new study suggests having your pet nearby – or even thinking about him or her – can boost confidence and reduce stress, along with its physical symptoms.” (Previous studies had established that already.) “But there’s a caveat: This dynamic only applies to owners who feel a loving connection to their feline or canine companion. If you think of Fluffy as a flea-infested nuisance, no benefits.”
Do TV Networks Have The Upper Hand Over Cable Companies?
“The index found that 38-43 percent of consumers would cancel or switch their pay TV service if they lost top broadcast networks. More than a third would cancel if they lost the top cable channel in terms of viewer loyalty, ESPN. And 29 percent would cancel if they lost the second-ranked cable network, Discovery.”