“German scientists find ‘internet-addiction gene’,’ said a headline on a German news site last week. Another site reported that scientists have ‘nailed down the gene responsible for internet addiction.’ Is it true? No, but its falseness is interesting for what it says both about the nature of our addictions and about how scientific researchers sometimes help journalists sensationalize research.”
Tag: 09.04.12
In Praise Of Berenice Abbott’s Science Photographs
“By making manifest the invisible forces that act upon the material world, they do for physics what the mandala does for Hindu theogony, or Kabbalistic diagrams of the sefirot try to do for the Ineffable.”
The New Combined-Genies-And-Geminis Will Be …
“The new Canadian prizes for film, television and digital media will be known as the Canadian Screen Awards, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television announced today. … The academy announced earlier this year that the Genie Awards for Canadian English-language film and the Geminis for Canadian TV would be combined.”
In Los Angeles, MOCA Wants Its Trustees To Get Back Into Line
“After a summer of discontent, the board of L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art has scheduled a special meeting Tuesday, aiming to unite trustees whose willingness to donate is vital to reversing recent budget cuts.”
Canada: It’s Time To Step Up For Creativity
“Canada needs a new innovative economic ‘road map,’ firmly linking dynamic creative and cultural sectors with open and welcoming business and technology sectors. This collaboration is essential to our achieving the Canada we want to be.”
Want To Innovate? Hire People Who Annoy The Crap Out Of You
“As long as you’re ensuring they are smart, the people who annoy you represent the diversity you and your company require.”
The Bookworms Of China Just May Save Traditional Publishing (For Now)
“Driving sales is a literate population that emphasizes education and self-improvement. Censorship has become less draconian since Mao’s time and publishing has become more commercial. As a result, readers of Chinese books today have more choice of genre, voice and subject matter than they have had at any time in the last 60 years.”
New York Times Causes Outcry By Reassigning Classical Music Critic Allan Kozinn
Alex Ross; “Many in the music world, myself included, are baffled and saddened by this development: a petition calling for his reinstatement gathered hundreds of signatures overnight.”
Australian Arts Groups: A National Cultural Policy Is All Well And Good – Can We Please Talk About Funding?
“As the government attempts to pull back $2 billion in grants, the Australian Major Performing Arts Group” – an umbrella for the country’s top theatre, dance, opera and classical music organizations – “will seek assurance that the delayed National Cultural Policy at least will maintain funding in real terms.”
Burt Bacharach Remembers Hal David
“Our early songs were rather ordinary. Musically, I gave Hal material that I thought was very commercial – nothing like what we would later write. We wrote some bad songs, songs you have never heard and never will. Songs like ‘Peggy’s in the Pantry’ and ‘Underneath the Overpass’.”