“Anytime Biz Stone and Evan Williams have any sort of announcement, the tech world listens. Late Tuesday, via a blog post, Williams, one of Twitter’s co-founders, introduced the world to Medium, a new platform for online publishing” that is, at least superficially, like a Pinterest for books.
Tag: 08.15.12
Lion King Passes Chorus Line In List Of Longest-Running Broadway Shows
The Disney/Julie Taymor/Elton John musical “has been playing for 14 years and nine months,” placing it fifth on the longevity list. “The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history at 22 years and counting. Cats, Les Miserables and Chicago round out the second-, third- and fourth-longest-running shows.”
Punch And Judy Get A 21st-Century Makeover (No More Violence)
“One is a tracksuit-wearing benefits cheat who will do anything to avoid work, while the other is a would-be Wag laden with credit card debts. Punch and Judy have been given a makeover in a revamped version of the classic puppet show which has been performed in Britain since 1662.”
Bookstores That Serve An Untraditional (Art) Function
“They tend to be on the small side, and some keep irregular hours. But they can be as visually sumptuous as any traditional gallery. And they are democratic places, where the art can be (occasionally, carefully) handled and where someone with means as meager as mine can afford to build a little collection.”
Detroit A Hollow Shell Of A City? Theatre Scene Begs To Differ
“It’s a scene that is as diverse as its residents: scrappy, dignified, irreverent, smart, infinitely creative and survivalist. It’s a scene that doesn’t care what its reputation is, doesn’t care what illusions others might have about its viability, and doesn’t stick to the conventions of how things ‘should’ be done.”
Does Plot Even Matter Anymore?
Not for those who want comfort from their movies, and what’s more comforting than a blockbuster?
‘Play It Again, Sam’: Why Misquotations Catch On
“Have you noticed how incorrect quotes often just sound right – sometimes, more right than actual quotations? There’s a reason for that. Our brains really like fluency, or the experience of cognitive ease (as opposed to cognitive strain) in taking in and retrieving information.”
Science Fiction Author Harry Harrison, Who Invented The Idea Of Soylent Green, Dead At 87
“[He] was best known for his The Stainless Steel Rat series, starring the free-spirited anti-hero Slippery Jim DiGriz, a quick-witted conman who travels the universe swindling humans, aliens and robots alike. His 1966 work, Make Room! Make Room! – a sci-fi take on the horrors of overpopulation – inspired the 1973 film Soylent Green starring Charlton Heston.”
Report: Digitally-Delivered Music Will Surpass Physical Sales (CDs, tapes, etc) In 2012
“Digital music will increase its share of global recorded music spending to 39 percent for all of 2012. The main growth driver here will be online streaming, which Strategy Analytics forecasts will grow 40 percent this year to $1.1 billion – almost five times the rate of download revenue.”
Should We Really Care About Copyright?
“Officially the idea is that the writer, artist, or musician should be allowed to reap the just rewards for his effort. This is quaint. There is very little justice in the returns artists receive. Works of equal value and quality produce quite different incomes or no income at all.”