Thinking hard makes sense if you want answers; it makes less sense if the highest reward you anticipate from your intellectual efforts is surprise. The difference between a philosophical life and an essayistic one is that the former aims at knowledge, while the latter aims at novelty. - Unherd
"A wax cylinder containing the oldest recorded country song was discovered in Pennsylvania. The track, 'Thompson's Old Gray Mule,' was recorded in 1891 and sung by Louis Vasnier, a Black man from New Orleans." - BBC
Young people today are no less obsessed with climate disasters than Gen X was with nuclear war. Where we had nightmares about missiles, theirs feature mass extinctions and climate refugees, wildfires and water wars. And that’s just the beginning. - The Atlantic
For old time’s sake, we sing “Auld Lang Syne.” We embrace the waltz to remember and ward off depression. Everywhere in the world there are New Year’s concerts featuring Strauss waltzes. - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
"A little blue dog was the biggest star in the streaming world; the most watched cable series in years took a final bow; sports, specifically the NFL, proved their viability on streaming platforms; and the biggest new broadcast show is a meta-remake that stars a 76-year-old treasure." - The Hollywood Reporter
"As we close out the year, we’ve rounded up the artworks that left us unimpressed — pieces that didn’t live up to the hype, ideas that fell flat, or works misplaced in their context." - Artnet
Beginning in 1986, with funding from two foundations and the U.S. Department of State, American Dance Festival director Charles Reinhart sent American teachers to the Guangdong Dance Academy. Four years later, the country's first modern dance company was formed; among its alumni is choreographer Shen Wei. - The New York Times
"Lebanese cultural preservation organisation Biladi said at least nine heritage sites were completely destroyed and 15 badly or partially damaged by Israeli attacks between September … and a ceasefire in November. But archaeological experts also say bomb blasts close to important sites … may have caused 'invisible damage'." - Financial Times
With heavy rain and very high winds pounding the Scottish capital, the torchlight parade, outdoor concerts, street party and fireworks display have been called off, though indoor events will proceed. - BBC
She became a household name in the US thanks to her decade starring in the CBS sitcom Alice, and she worked regularly in TV and film thereafter, but she was at heart a stage actress, with a Tony Award and multiple nominations to her credit. - AP
Publishing 32 books over the course of his life, he wasn’t simply prolific, as far as former presidents go. His output also displayed an extraordinary range that included historical fiction, poetry and meditations on the meaning of faith and the splendor of nature. There was even a coffee-table book on woodworking. - The New York Times
In recent years, a study quantified the audible differences between her recordings of Tosca and Nabucco, a decade apart. They found that she had become increasingly sharp, irregular and unstable. What prompted the demise of this iconic voice has been a subject of hot debate in the operatic world. - The Conversation
Individual teachers, school boards, and think tanks are attempting to find ways to improve teachers’ working conditions so as to combat burnout, proposing a variety of measures ranging from increasing pay and benefits to offering coverage for mental health care. But such measures fail to address the deeper problem. - Compact Magazine
It is now difficult to imagine the mass of general readers—assuming they exist—being reached even by a historian of genius. Historiography is becoming stuck. - Compact Magazine
