A pair of Finnish scholars have scored success with a weekly worldwide radio newscast broadcast in Latin. “Based on the 15 to 20 letters the program receives every week from listeners, the producers say Nuntii Latini listeners also include Latin scholars and students around the world as well as the residents of various monasteries, who almost all, naturally, keenly scrutinize the show’s word usage and grammar.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada) 09/12/00
Tag: 09.12.00
FIGHTING BACK
Independent bookstores have discovered that the internet offers them a way of fighting back against the big superstore retailers. Turns out personal service counts on the web as well. – Wired
FCC LOOKS AT KIDS’ PROGRAMMING
A day after a federal report excoriated Hollywood for marketing violent content to children, the FCC urged the television industry to adopt a voluntary code to ensure children’s programming is age-appropriate during the hours they’re likely to watch. On Thursday the FCC will discuss advertising practices during children’s programming. – Yahoo! News (Reuters)
THE COSTS OF NOT WORKING
The 19-week strike by actors against commercial producers has cost the Los Angeles economy $200 million, says an economist. – Variety
TORONTO IS TOPS
“Other events may have made their mark by being snobbish, elitist, difficult. Not Toronto. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and generally considered the top festival in North America and the most important in the world after Cannes, Toronto has become the destination of choice for filmmakers and journalists largely by being appreciative, hospitable and sane.” – Los Angeles Times
PRANKSTERS OR GUERRILLA ARTISTS?
Described variously as art terrorists, opportunists, or “gimmicky” provocateurs, Chinese performance artists Yuan Cai and Jian Jun Xi say they’re trying to “fuel artistic debate and celebrate the spirit of modern art.” How, exactly? Recent pranks include urinating on Duchamp’s famous urinal and vandalizing Tracey Emin’s “My Bed” installation at the Tate. – CNN
STONE BLAME
A British member of parliament has attacked Suzanna Taverne, director of the British Museum, over the use of the wrong stone for a new museum portico. “It amazes me that Ms Taverne is now saying they were ‘mugged’. It seems as if those responsible for the scheme are trying to pass the blame.” – London Evening Standard
SECOND CITY
Edinburgh has traditionally been a net exporter of artists. “But now, just as fledgling artists have always flocked to ply their trade in Paris, New York or Florence, some of today’s young talent is beginning to head for Edinburgh. It is now a city which holds more publicly funded art galleries than any other outside London.” – The Scotsman
HIGH TIMES FOR SMITHSONIAN
The Smithsonian is setting attendance fundraising records. “Overall attendance at the Washington and New York facilities for the first eight months of this year totaled 26.1 million, compared with 23.5 million for the same period in 1999.” The Smithsonian raised $200 million last year and its endowment is close to a record $755 million and has grown by $100 million a year over the last two years. – Washington Post