The gems were originally, circa 240 BC, buried in a stupa in Piprahwa, India, where they were mixed with some cremated remains of the Buddha. The jewels were to be auctioned by descendants of the British colonial landowner who took them to England; Prime Minister Modi intervened to halt the sale. - The Guardian
“To see someone try to act natural onstage seems so artificial,” he told The Times in 2021. “If you accept it as being something artificial, in the long run, it seems more natural, for me.” - The New York Times
“Despite his character, and questionable sanity, Caligula was also man of great intellect and learning with a particularly keen knowledge of pharmacology. … Caligula was certainly knowledgeable in the topics of toxicology, antidotes, and purgatives, and he was probably also aware of abortifacients.” - Artnet
Now, as often as criticism has been declared to be in a golden age, and perhaps as a corollary, it has been held to be in crisis. - The Metropolitan Review
Their heyday was the 1980s and ‘90s, from Airplane! through the National Lampoon and Austin Powers franchises, Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, and Scary Movie, but standards fell in the '00s and the genre faded away. With the return of the Naked Gun franchise and a Spinal Tap sequel, maybe spoofs are back. - The Guardian
Art advisors and experts told ARTnews the works are high caliber and have “crazy” starting bids relative to their actual value based on previous auction records and sales information. However, the simple auction website and association with an international fugitive may deter potential bidders in an already sluggish art market. - ARTnews
Briet invites publishers to sell their e-books to libraries outright, providing universal, perpetual access. Several independent publishers including PM Press, Punctum, Sideshow, and Silver Sprocket are on board. - Publishers Weekly
For Chief Justice Roberts, though, the role recently has placed him in an unenviable position — helping to lead an institution in the crosshairs of President Trump. - The New York Times
“The early announcement of David Muse’s 2027 departure as artistic director of Studio Theatre … allows the institution ample time to search for a replacement. That person will join Hana S. Sharif at Arena Stage, Karen Ann Daniels at Folger Theatre and Maria Manuela Goyanes’s successor at Woolly Mammoth in a fresh class of leaders.” - The Washington Post (MSN)
Under Valentine’s direction, the Symphony has earned 14 Grammys and 27 nominations, produced more than 40 recordings, commissioned and premiered dozens of innovative works. - Music Row
The second quarter of the current fiscal year marked Imax’s best quarter in terms of domestic movies ticket sales as it stays on course to achieve guidance of $1.2 billion for the full year. - The Hollywood Reporter
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of the District of Columbia gave the administration until Aug. 13 to explain how it will get VOA working again. The outlet that dates back to World War II has been largely dark since March. - AP News
“While sales of such seemingly prescient novels as 1984 by George Orwell (1949) and Parable of the Sower by Olivia Butler (1993) (have) surged …, backlist nonfiction titles that explore and explain authoritarianism and fascism are also drawing readers to their local independent bookstores, despite a general downturn in nonfiction book sales.” - Publishers Weekly
Once you understand how your reward system works, you can consciously redirect it toward the things that actually matter to you. Let’s explore the connection between slot machines, social media, and the secret to a more curious, fulfilling life. - Big Think
“The computer has been trained to reflect back at you what you tell it, so if it shows you as a billionaire, it doesn’t mean you are going to be a billionaire. It just means you told it you want to be a billionaire.” - The New York Times
