Crime novelist Lindsay Ashford finds that the symptoms Austen suffered before her death at age 41 are very consistent with those of poisoning by arsenic, which was widely used in medicines at the time.
Tag: 11.14.11
Bolshoi Ballet’s Star Couple Seeks Artistic Freedom, Defects To St. Petersburg
“Prima ballerina Natalia Osipova, 25, and principal dancer Ivan Vasiliev, 22, will leave the newly renovated Bolshoi to work with the Mikhailovsky Theatre’s new Spanish artistic director Nacho Duato.
Michael Kaiser Is Frightened By Amateur Online Critics
“[The] growing influence of blogs, chat rooms and message boards devoted to the arts has given the local professional critic a slew of competitors. … Many arts institutions even allow their audience members to write their own critiques on the organizational website. This is a scary trend.”
A Godly And Righteous Rant: Old-School Vicar Deplores King James Bible’s Successors
“For centuries, people of all walks of life have carried around with them echoes of the King James Version. So to throw it out as the church hierarchy has done amounts to a savage act of deprivation … Sidelining the King James Version especially deprives our children and is therefore a notable case of child abuse.”
In Media-Saturated World, True Stories Resonate
“One of the elements of the culture of Total Noise is the insertion of the voices of celebrities into areas of debate that have nothing to do with film, fashion or TV. The use of Twitter by celebrities gives the impression of genuine connection with the rich and famous. And yet, of course, sometimes the complete lack of authenticity is revealed.”
Chinese Tax Officials Throw Up Blocks To Ai Weiwei Paying Tax
“Hours before the deadline for paying the 15m yuan (£1.47m) fine, tax officials told the artist and human rights campaigner he could not use his mother’s house as collateral and that there were problems with the funds he had raised in a public appeal.”
Study: UK Dance Shows Have Increased Interest In Dance
“According to a survey carried by YouGov, 21% of adults are “more interested in dancing” because of dance shows on television, while 20% currently participate in some form of dance.”
Nigerian President Surprised That Chinua Achebe Rejects Honor
“Mr Achebe said the concerns he raised about Nigeria when he first rejected the award in 2004 remain unresolved. At the time, Mr Achebe said the situation in poverty and violence-hit Nigeria was becoming worse.”