“While the pattern looks simple—release the book, get a bunch of sales—it appears candidates who publish while they’re riding high in the polls get an additional boost. But sales trail off rather quickly.”
Tag: 12.12.15
Harper Lee’s Christmas Memory
Truman Capote’s holiday memoir may be more famous, but Lee’s is arguably more heartwarming and certainly more momentous.
You Think Photo Manipulation Is Bad? Think Again
“We need to sometimes break with reality, but it’s always most fun when some element of the here and now lingers in that escapism.”
Wood, That New Architectural Material
“Mass timber could prove to be a viable alternative to concrete and steel for mid-to-high rise buildings. … Moreover, the USDA is looking to these projects to mitigate climate change and support jobs in rural America.”
Propaganda Is Here To Stay, But What Museum Will Take It On?
“‘Few people have the guts to say that art and propaganda are the same thing,’ George Orwell famously wrote in 1936. He later tempered that caustic view, which was typical of his pugilistic style in standing up on behalf of the little guy. But there is truth to it. Certainly art and propaganda have a long history together in various trenches.”
What Do We Expect From Women And Men Onstage?
“In short, audiences overall displayed a protective streak towards the female characters, and reacted very negatively to scenarios in which they seemed to be bullied by men.”
Classical Music Can Soothe, But Also Provoke
“Making music cannot halt terrorism, heal the environment or solve the world’s other great problems. But in its insistence on cooperation from its practitioners and demand for mindfulness from its listeners, music can help open dialogue. From the practice of listening can come a little understanding, then concern and maybe even a ping of compassion.”