Stories

The Ethics Of Entertainment Values

"Is the value of my experience at Disney World undermined by the fact that it is, at the end of the day, a production of the Walt Disney Company? Can I trust a profit-hungry corporation to teach my children universal values? - Psyche

“Art Is The Great Democrat”

“Art is the great democrat,” wrote Kennedy, “calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color.” He saw art as a means of transcending difference, as both a product of democracy and a contributor to its flourishing. - San Francisco Classical Voice

Anime Could Become Japan’s Number-One Export Industry — If Its Business Culture Can Manage It

The international demand for anime is certainly big enough, and the struggling Japanese economy could really use the extra earnings from abroad. But the country’s corporate culture is not exactly known for nimbleness, and it may not be able to reallocate resources quickly enough to meet demand with supply. - The New York Times

The Trap Of Optimization

We usually assume that more of it must be better. But we can become so focused on improving one thing that we lose sight of the others. You can try to arrange your calendar so that every minute is accounted for, but you’ll soon start running over and end up behind.  - The Guardian

Canadian Government Announces New Investment In Books

The new budget released by the government of Canada last week permanently increased the Canada Book Fund by CDN $5 million annually. This increase, the first since 2001, will bring the Canada Book Fund’s total annual budget to approximately CDN $43.4 million starting in 2027–28. - Publishers Weekly

Skydance, Looking To Cut More Than $6B, Offers Big Staff Buyouts

One of the company’s highest priorities is to get its balance sheet in order. The company has more than $80 billion in debt, and Ellison has promised investors that he and his team would eliminate $6 billion in expenses within three years. On Monday, the executives signaled they were looking to exceed that sum. - Los Angeles Times

Should Non-Equity Touring Shows Be Playing L.A.’s Flagship Nonprofit Theaters?

A non-Equity production of The Music Man is currently running at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre, and quite a bit of SoCal’s theater community is unhappy about that. But a cast member says they’re treated well, and CTG artistic director Snehal Desai he didn’t have much choice in this case. - Los Angeles Times (MSN)

America’s New Movie Capital: New Jersey?

At a time when filming in Los Angeles has plunged to historic lows, New Jersey has soared, becoming one of the nation’s hottest film destinations and squeezing into the limelight of its bigger neighbor across the Hudson River. - Los Angeles Times

Aquaterra: The Vast Lands Of Civilization We’ve Not Yet Explored

To understand where—and what—Aquaterra is, you have to think about how sea levels fall and rise during an ice age. As the planet cools, ocean water becomes locked up in continental ice sheets, and sea levels fall by hundreds of feet. - The Atlantic

The Louvre’s New Director On The Museum’s Many Challenges

The new challenges in recent weeks come at a time when Mr. Leribault has had to deal with everything in his brief tenure from the threat of staff strikes and a perennial shortage of visitor bathrooms to a whopping funding drive to finance the museum’s planned refurbishment and reorganization. - The Wall Street Journal

Paul McCartney Is Now Officially A Billionaire

“Paul McCartney has joined the ranks of the world’s billionaires. Forbes has valued the former Beatle’s net worth at $1.4bn (£1.04bn), making him the world’s third richest musician behind Jay-Z at $2.8bn (£2.01bn) and Taylor Swift at $2bn (£1.49bn).” - The Guardian

CBC/Radio-Canada To Get $300 Million In One-Off Extra Funding

“CBC/Radio-Canada will receive an additional $300 million in federal funding over the next two years, providing the Canadian public broadcaster with additional resources for news coverage, digital programming and Canadian-produced content.” - Inside Radio

Britain’s BalletBoyz At 25

“Let’s dispel the myth about BalletBoyz — it’s not an all-male company and never has been. There were women in their first shows 25 years ago, in this show and others in between, while the ensemble’s lineup can change every year.” Founders William Trevitt and Michael Nunn never liked the name, anyway. - The Times (UK)

Chicagoans Vote To Create Permanent Site For Rock Festivals. But …

“The (non-binding ballot) measure, meant to gauge public interest, arrived after pushback in recent years from some Chicagoans who oppose privately run festivals taking place in the city’s public spaces, from Lollapalooza in Grant Park to Riot Fest in Douglass Park. But despite electoral support, there are no clear next steps.” - WBEZ (Chicago)

Ancient Petroglyphs In Utah Vandalized, Damage May Be Permanent

“The Bureau of Land Management announced on November 6 that it was investigating vandalism at two ancient rock-art sites near Moab, Utah, where someone carved names into petroglyphs, leaving damage that may be impossible to remove.” - Outside

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