“Suppose you have a choice between visiting the art museum, including its new wing, or going to see the museum without visiting the new wing. Naturally, you would prefer to see it with the new wing. But now imagine that an evil demon declares that out of every 100 people who see the new wing, he will choose one, at random, and inflict 15 years of blindness on that person. Would you still visit the new wing? You’d have to be nuts.”
Tag: 08.10.13
Cuba Gets An English-Language Bookstore
“The brainchild of a longtime U.S. expat, Cuba Libro launched Friday as a bookshop, cafe and literary salon that offers islanders and tourists alike a unique space to buy or borrow tomes in the language of Shakespeare. Cuba Libro also gives customers an occasional glimpse of opinions hard to find elsewhere on the island.”
Brad Pitt’s All-Time Biggest Box Office Hit? World War Z
“Over the weekend, the worldwide total for his zombie tentpole World War Z grew to $502.6 million, surpassing the $497.3 million earned by historical epic Troy.”
Surprise! With So Many Blockbuster Flops, A Likely Summer Movie Box Office Record
“With just three weeks until summer moviegoing peters out after Labor Day weekend, observers already are calling summer 2013 the best ever at the domestic box office.”
Libraries Are The New Gamer Center
“They’re fun, and I think there’s a value to kids coming to the library and having fun and having a place where they can hang out with each other. There aren’t a lot of safe places teenagers can go, so it’s important to give them that, even if it isn’t the most educational experience.”
Francesa Zambello Is Inventing A Different Kind Of Music Festival
“A festival, according to this template, is a place where artists gather, experiment with different kinds of performances, and learn from and train each other and the audience.”
Australian Festival Says It’s Cheaper To Fly In German Orchestra Rather Than Buy Australian
“The Sydney Festival will use a German orchestra in its centrepiece show next year because it is cheaper than employing Australian musicians.”
San Antonio Classical Music Radio Station Quits Live Announcers And Automates
“In a dramatic move to cut costs, San Antonio’s classical public radio station KPAC-FM (88.3) has stopped programming its musical content locally and is using a syndicated service out of Minnesota.”
Ten Very Expensive Pieces Of Art In Amazon’s Online Gallery
“Check out the list of Amazon Art’s 10 most expensive paintings below for a taste of the impressive, albeit sort of bizarre, range of works available for purchase. “
Scientists Do DNA Tests To Try To Identify Leonardo’s Mona Lisa
“To find the DNA they needed, scientists cut a round hole in the stone church floor above the family crypt of Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. The tomb lies behind the altar of the Santissima Annunziata Basilica.”