Tag: 12.30.14

“Literally” And “Awesome” Aren’t Destroying English, Steven Pinker Reassures Us

In a Q&A, the cognitive scientist and linguist talks about rules of usage (and lack of them), the usefulness of emojis and italics, and his grammar feud with The New Yorker‘s Nathan Heller. He even explains the psychology that keeps grad students churning out academic jargon instead of decent writing. (And then there’s the hair …)

Study: Internet Tops Friends, Family As Sources Of Information

“In a report we issued this afternoon, we found that for a cluster of problems with government connections more people turn to the internet than to experts or family members. This preference for the internet isn’t the case for every person’s every problem. But it was interesting to see how much the internet has moved from the periphery of people’s lives a decade ago to the center of their information environment now.”

Broadway Box Office Surges Over Holidays

“The Broadway League said Monday that shows on the Great White Way pulled in $40,993,950 for the week ending Sunday, better than the same week last year when 30 shows attracted $38,783,854. Attendance also went from 290,386 in 2013 to 318,721 this year, with crowds taking advantage of mild New York weather and Christmas falling on a Thursday.”

The Two-Time Oscar-Winning Best Actress You Probably Never Heard Of (She Just Died At 104)

Luise Rainer’s meteoric rise and rapid descent has mystified movie fans for decades. It was almost impossible to believe that — after winning an Academy Award for her wrenching performance in “The Great Ziegfeld” in 1936, and then following it up with a triumphal turn as O-Lan in “The Good Earth” a year later — Rainer was not on her way to being one of Hollywood’s most enduring film stars.”

Struggles Of The Middle-Aged Musicians

“According to the Recording Industry Association of America, only three recording artists achieved platinum sales certification on an album released in 2014. Music lovers are slowly turning away from the ownership of music, as the shift to streaming services continues. But the streaming model isn’t yet a lucrative one for musicians. So they fight, especially the older acts not tied to a major label deal.”

Seoul Philharmonic CEO Finally Ends Her No-Good-Very-Bad Month (And Tenure) By Resigning

“Park Hyun-jung, president of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, announced on Monday afternoon that she will step down after being accused of sexual harassment and verbal abuse by her employees in early December. The announcement came a day before the orchestra’s board of directors was to officially dismiss her from her post during a board meeting.”

Cuba’s Art Scene Awaits The Coming Rush Of Travelers

“As collectors, art connoisseurs and institutions eagerly gear up to travel to Cuba after President Obama’s decision to loosen the economic embargo, the art scene that awaits them is sui generis: a world whose artists are cut off from supplies and the Internet and, at the same time, celebrated by a coterie of international buyers whose curiosity and determination brought them to Cuba long before talk of a thaw.”

America Has “Nutcracker”, England Has Pantomimes, Chicago Has “Burning Bluebeard” (What?)

“As holiday traditions go, the play Burning Bluebeard doesn’t exactly seem like a natural: no Cratchits, no elves, no Grinches, no sugarplum fairies. Its place in the season is all about timing. It’s based on the real-life story of a fatal fire that happened in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day – and it’s told by clowns.”