Advertising is everywhere; it’s hard to escape. “Advertisers will spend hundreds of billions of dollars trying to reach consumers this year. The result? Advertising clutter. Researchers guesstimate the average American is exposed to hundreds, or even thousands, of ads each day. But marketers may be losing ground. We’ve been sprayed so much that we’ve begun developing immunities.”
Tag: 11.09.04
Surprise! Chicago Arts Groups Lose Betting Income
Traditionally, the state of Illinois has distributed some of its income from Off Track Betting operations to cultural institutions. But in closing a state budget deficit, the money was taken off the table. “The lack of OTB grants this year will mean a combined $1.1 million loss for Chicago attractions that include the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium, attractions that officials say pump an estimated $500 million into the economy every year.”
CBS Appeals FCC Janet Jackson Fine
CBS has appealed a $550,000 fine levied against it by the FCC for the Janet Jackson Superbowl show last January. “No one at the network knew, or had reason to suspect, that the halftime show would end with a glimpse of nudity,” CBS said in its hefty filing with the FCC.
Shouldn’t A State Constitution Inspire With Style?
David Kipen has been reading California’s state constitution – an “imperfect transcript of a continuing 155-year constitutional convention, which shows no sign of adjourning. And there’s not a drop of poetry in it, unless you count the surreal juxtaposition of our right to fish in public waters and, on the very next page, the state’s right to execute prisoners without falling afoul of the ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ clause.” Compare this to the US Constitution, which is short and sings to its citizens…
Cleveland Chamber Symphony On The Abyss
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony has “won numerous national awards for adventurous programming, presented more than 100 world premieres and kept a familiar group of the city’s superb players – not to mention a largely familiar audience – on the edge of their musical seats.” But after 23 years, the orchestra is on the verge of extinction…
Ancient African Rock Paintings Endangered
International experts on ancient rock art in Africa say the paintings are in danger of being destroyed. “These early works of mankind have survived the continent’s harsh weather, but not, increasingly, Africa’s burgeoning population.”
Gibson Kente, SA Playwright
Kente died in a Soweto hospice of HIV-related illness. “Kente’s work remains memorable because he was so innovative. Employing the extremely limited resources available in the urban townships, he was able to craft a host of musicals and dramas depicting the fears, trials, tribulations, hopes and aspirations of the urban African communities.”
Investigation Of WBUR Finds Some Mismanagement
Boston University has released results of an investigation of management of public radio station WBUR (which it owns) a month after general managers Jane Christo resigned amid allegations of mismanagement…
Report: Downloading Bad For CD Sales
A new US report suggests that downloading hurts CD sales. “The report, commissioned by the US National Bureau of Economic Research, studied the habits of 412 students. It said the US music industry lost one fifth of a sale for each album downloaded from the internet. The study contradicts a previous report, conducted in 2002, which said swapping songs online had no negative effect on music sales.”
Saturn – The Galaxy’s Largest Musical Instrument?
Scientists have discovered that Saturn’s rings “play” musical notes. “The tones are short, typically lasting between one and three seconds, and unlike the ethereal sliding tones associated with other cosmic processes, every one is quite distinct. The evidence suggests that each tone is produced by the impact of a meteoroid on the icy chunks that make up the rings.”