Stories

Why We Choose To Ignore Useful Information Right In Front Of Us

If the saying ‘knowledge is power’ is true, then most people hold an indefinite amount of power in their pockets. And, in this light, it’s curious that someone would choose to relinquish that power by avoiding information. - Psyche

Recent Rulings On AI And Copyright Leave The Issue More Confused Than Ever

On certain key points, the two judges disagreed with each other—so thoroughly, in fact, that one legal scholar observed that the judges had “totally different conceptual frames for the problem.” - The Atlantic

1,700-Year-Old Mayan Royal Tomb Uncovered In Belize

“The tomb is the final resting place of Te K’ab Chaak, the first ruler of (the) ancient Maya city (of Caracol) and the founder of its royal dynasty. He ascended the throne in 331 C.E. and was interred in a royal family shrine along with items including pottery vessels, jadeite jewelry, and a mosaic jadeite mask.” - Artnet

Artnet Staff: Our Favorite Art Books Of All Time

The books that made impressions on people who care about art. - Artnet

What Brain Scans Reveal About Humans Seeking Revenge

Recent neuroscience discoveries reveal a chilling picture: Your brain on revenge looks like your brain on drugs. Brain imaging studies show that grievances—real or imagined perceptions of injustice, disrespect, betrayal, shame, or victimization—activate the “pain network,” specifically the anterior insula. - Slate (MSN)

How Women From The Former East Germany Are Shaking Up The Museum World

What these women offer isn’t nostalgia. It’s clarity. A resistance to simplification. A belief that history is not a finished room. In Kathleen Reinhardt’s office, there’s a poster that reads: “You don’t have to tear down the statues – just the pedestals.” - The Guardian

Philadelphia’s Newest Art Museum Is Also Its Smallest

It holds only six paintings. It’s free, though reservations are required. And it’s an unlikely spot for a museum: the Green Room of the Academy of Music, the historic opera house/musical theater venue owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

Praemium Imperiale 2025 Winners: Marina Abramović, András Schiff, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Peter Doig, Eduardo Souto de Moura

It seems the categories for the $100,000 arts prizes this year were made a bit flexible: performance artist Abramović won the prize for sculpture and choreographer de Keersmaeker won the theatre/film award. Meanwhile, pianist Schiff won for music, artist Doig for painting, and Souto de Moura for architecture. - FAD Magazine

Hackers Commandeer Elmo’s Account (Yes, From “Sesame Street”) And Tweet Offensive Messages

“The account was compromised over the weekend and instead of the usual posts of encouragement and kindness, Elmo’s 650,000 followers were given antisemitic threats and a profane reference to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Those tweets were soon deleted.” - AP

Social Prescription — When Doctor’s Orders Are Art, Music, Dance, Nature, Or Group Exercise

“It's the idea of health professionals ‘literally prescribing you a community activity or resource the same way they'd prescribe you pills or therapies.’ ... The prescriptions include exercise, art, music, exposure to nature and volunteering, which are known to have enormous benefits to physical and mental health.” - NPR

Milwaukee Ballet Will Use Live Orchestra For “Nutcracker” After All

Less than two weeks after the company announced that, due to financial troubles, it would use a recording of Tchaikovsky’s music for the next three seasons, an anonymous contribution by a first-time donor will fund the use of live musicians this year. The following two seasons, however, are not (yet) covered. - Urban Milwaukee

Unreleased Music By Beyoncé Stolen From Car In Atlanta

“The theft of the materials, stored on five thumb drives, … along with footage, show plans and concert set lists, … happened on July 8, two days before Beyoncé began a four-day residency at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.” - AP

“Gorky Park” Author Martin Cruz Smith Dead At 82

“(He) had just published Hotel Ukraine, the 11th and final installment in his Arkady Renko detective series, three days before he died. The novel featured his detective hero grappling with the usual concerns — official corruption, a brutal murder — as well as the same debilitating illness faced by Mr. Smith.” - The Washington Post (MSN)

Hollywood Bowl LA Phil Season Opens On A Down Note

One of the highlights of this season has fallen victim to a baffling Venezuela travel ban. Gustavo Dudamel can no longer bring his Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra in August. That now means that Dudamel will spend only a single week at the Bowl during his penultimate summer as L.A. Phil music director. - Los Angeles Times

Historic Documents Stolen Ten Years Ago From Dutch National Archives Are Found In Attic

A decade ago, an employee stole 25 priceless documents from the Netherlands’ National Archives in the Hague. The trove included 16th-century records of clandestine government affairs, a 15th-century letter from a knight and documents from the Dutch East India Company. - Smithsonian

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