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Trump Administration Makes Emergency Appeal To Supreme Court To Fire Head Of The US Copyright Office

The administration’s newest emergency appeal to the high court was filed a month and a half after a federal appeals court in Washington held that the official, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired. - APNews

Does AI Threaten Our Ability To Perceive The World?

Many people invoke a distinction between illicit uses of A.I. (such as the composition of entire drafts) and innocent auxiliary functions — outlining, for instance. But it is these seemingly benign functions that are the most pernicious for developing minds. - The New York Times

Trump Fires Entire Design Commission Tasked With Reviewing Capital Region Projects

The commission, which was established by Congress more than a century ago and traditionally includes a mix of architects and urban planners, is charged with providing advice to the president, Congress and local government officials on design matters related to construction projects in the capital region. - Washington Post

Writer Hanif Kureishi, Paralyzed After An Accident, Creates A Dance

“Kureishi, 70, who wrote the award-winning novel The Buddha of Suburbia and the film My Beautiful Laundrette, has devised a filmed piece about the devastating aftermath of his fall for two leading ballet dancers, in collaboration with choreographer and Royal Ballet principal character artist Kristen McNally.” - The Observer (UK)

Belgrade Theatre Festival Accused Of Censorship, Artistic Director Resigns

Festival administrators canceled controversial director Milo Rau’s play The Pelicot Trial, allegedly over Rau’s criticism of the Serbian government last year; consequently, the festival’s artistic director resigned. Artists say the government — which has been facing months of protests over corruption — is putting political pressure on the festival and slashing funding. - AFP (Barron’s)

Multimillion-Dollar Art Forgery Ring Broken By German Police

“German police said they busted an international forgery ring that was trying to sell fake works for millions of dollars to unsuspecting collectors. The fraudsters claimed the works were by artists including Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, and Frida Kahlo." - ARTnews

America’s Second-Largest Bookstore Chain Is Bouncing Back

“Books-A-Million … is in the process of opening 15 new outlets this year, which will keep the total number of outlets at over 220 spread across 32 states.” Both new and existing locations are getting redesigned interiors and a wider selection of titles; new stores average about 15,000 square feet. - Publishers Weekly

In $1 Billion+ Film and TV Deal, “Yellowstone” Showrunner Will Leave Paramount For NBCUniversal

“Sheridan shocked Hollywood by signing a $1 billion+ deal with NBCUniversal and leaving behind his longtime partner at Paramount where the Yellowstone creator has built an empire. The movie deal starts in 2026 and will run for eight years, while the television deal starts at the end of 2028.” - TheWrap (MSN)

For Second Time, Heirs Sue Met Museum Over Van Gogh’s “Olive Picking”

The work was owned by a Jewish couple who fled Germany in 1936; sale proceeds were confiscated by the Nazis. The couple's heirs sued the Met (which sold the painting in 1972) in federal court, where the case was tossed on jurisdictional grounds; they have re-filed in New York state. - The New York Times

Nobel-Winning Writer Wole Soyinka Says He’s Been Banned From The US

“The Trump administration has revoked the visa for Wole Soyinka, the acclaimed Nigerian Nobel prize-winning writer who has been critical of Trump since his first presidency. … Soyinka previously held permanent residency in the United States, though he destroyed his green card after Donald Trump’s first election in 2016.” - The Guardian

Why High School Teachers Should Be Having Students Read Entire Books, Not Just Excerpts

College professors of English Johanna Winant and Dan Sinykin thought they had written a book to help other undergrad-level instructors to teach close reading. It’s turned out that their work is helping high school teachers learn how to get their students to read and understand whole books. - Slate (MSN)

Just How Vulnerable Are Art Museums To Theft?

Many museums do have security systems in place to prevent similar heists, but they aren’t always foolproof. Unfortunately, in the case of the Louvre, security concerns went unchecked until it was too late.  - ARTnews

Second City Has A Sideline: Improv Training For CEOs And Pro Athletes

“The venerable Chicago-based improvisational comedy institution has quietly built out a surprising side-hustle: Using the fundamentals and tactics of improv to teach corporate executives and professional athletes how to be better communicators.” - The Hollywood Reporter

Steppenwolf @50: Career-Changing Theatre

Steppenwolf is embarking on its 50 anniversary season as one of America’s pre-eminent theater companies. An invitation to join its storied ensemble — a familial coterie of actors, directors and writers — is a golden ticket. - The New York Times

NPR And The Corporation For Public Broadcasting Are Fighting

Hearings continue in NPR’s lawsuit to block the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s distribution of $57.9 million to the newly formed Public Media Infrastructure (PMI). - InsideRadio

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