How Classical Music Has Become Big Video Game Business

In case you are unaware, video games and video game music have come a long way from the 8-bit MIDI sound effects of Donkey Kong.  It’s a musical realm that has produced its own roster of superstar composers beginning in the 1980s with synthesizer “techno” scores created for games like The Revenge of Shinobi and Streets of Rage by Yuzo Koshiro; Koji Kondo’s accompaniment for Super Mario Brothers; and Nobuo Uematsu’s influential scores for the highly successful Final Fantasy series. To the point that Uematsu has gained the title of “the Beethoven of video games music.” – San Francisco Classical Voice

A Day In The (Very Busy) Life Of The Ailey Company’s Production Stage Manager

“While [Kristin Colvin] Young’s job involves the responsibilities that immediately come to mind when you think of stage management — like calling the lights and sound during shows — her role encompasses everything from prepping casting inserts for programs to finalizing rehearsal schedules to giving preshow audience announcements as the ‘Voice of God.’ During a recent tour stop in Copenhagen, Young documented what a typical performance day entails.” – Dance Magazine

Why Did Librarians Remove Dewey’s Name From One Of Their Most Prestigious Awards?

Dewey is a legend – you know, the Dewey decimal system for ordering library books? – and perhaps was responsible for the entry of women into the profession. Yay, but, he also was censured and removed from office in 1906 – 1906, people – for his handsy ways (we call that harassment or assault now) and the racism and anti-Semitism he exhibited at his private club. His defense? Some of my best friends are Jews. – Slate

The Eternal Optimism Of The Silicon Valley Mind

Silicon Valley (and all of the tech people who inhabit it and its environs, on- and offline) doesn’t have a political point of view, really. It’s not conservative nor liberal. It’s only always optimistic about technology making life easier and better. “This creed burns brightly, undimmed by the anti-tech backlash,” and it is deeply rooted in sunny, optimistic American culture. – The New York Times

Syria’s Secret Library

In 2013, in the war-ravaged town of Daraya, people collected books after shelling and wrapped them in blankets to take them to a secret basement location. “The self-appointed chief librarian, a 14-year-old named Amjad, would write down in a large file the names of people who borrowed the books, and then return to his seat to continue reading. … The library hosted a weekly book club, as well as classes on English, math and world history, and debates over literature and religion.” – The New York Times

Chicago Festival Has To Cancel A Highly Anticipated Premiere Because Immigration Denies Visas To Playwright And Crew

Conchi León and her touring cast and crew had been making Chicago-specific plans since March, building a special traveling set for her Yucatán- set play La Tía Mariela. It was set to premiere at the Chicago’s International Latino Theater Festival … until the US Department of Citizenship Immigration Services decided not to issue visas to the cast and crew because “they were determined to not be ‘culturally unique.'” What? – NBC News