“His universal grammar was put forward as an innate component of the human mind—and it promised to reveal the deep biological underpinnings of the world’s 6,000-plus human languages. The most powerful, not to mention the most beautiful, theories in science reveal hidden unity underneath surface diversity, and so this theory held immediate appeal. But evidence has overtaken Chomsky’s theory, which has been inching toward a slow death for years.”
Author: Douglas McLennan
FTC Cracks Down On Brain-Training Site Lumosity
“The privately held company, based in San Francisco, has drawn in 70 million people over the past decade to play games that challenge users to remember sequences of brightly colored animations, or to ignore visual distractions and click only on certain objects. The FTC charged that Lumosity oversold the benefits of the games.”
This Year’s Man Booker Prize Shortlist
“Though this year’s short list is not nearly as internationally diverse as last year’s — nominees hail only from the U.S., U.K., and Canada — there’s a significant chance a person of color could follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Marlon James, and take home the prize.”
Colorado Symphony Posts Its First-Ever Surplus And Names A New Music Director
For the first time since it was organized in 1989, the Colorado Symphony is beginning a new concert season with a budget surplus, $1.7 million in cash in the bank and substantial financial commitments toward a goal of creating a $50 million permanent endowment.
The Ghostly Dance That Marks Each 9/11
The 9/11 Table of Silence Project by choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi in collaboration with the Italian visual artist Rossella Vasta made its debut at Lincoln Center for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in 2011 and has returned each year since. The organizers call it “a public performance tribute to 9/11 and prayer for peace and healing.”
The Rules Of Language We All Know But Can’t Name
“You are utterly familiar with the rule of ablaut reduplication. You’ve been using it all your life. It’s just that you’ve never heard of it. But if somebody said the words zag-zig, or ‘cross-criss you would know, deep down in your loins, that they were breaking a sacred rule of language. You just wouldn’t know which one.”
The Lost Art Of 9/11
“The task force estimated that a staggering $100 million in art from private collections, and an additional $10 million worth of public art was lost in the tragedy. Some works of art did survive, though.”
Some Questions About The Fort Worth Symphony Strike
“The piece doesn’t attempt to present an even-handed explanation of what’s happening; instead, it uncritically reposts the position of one actor in the dispute. This is a blind spot I’ve seen many times, from many reporters. We’re conditioned to believe that since management deals with the business side of the organization, anything it says about the business side of the organization is true and unbiased.”
How The Fort Worth Symphony Got Into A Mess (And A Strike)
“Management says it simply can’t grant the musicians raises and remain viable. Orchestra staffers’ pay has been frozen for several years, and they have received no pension funding, management says. The orchestra is projecting a $700,000 operating deficit for the 2016-17 season. The symphony finished its most recent season with a $500,000 deficit, $300,000 less than projected, partly because of better-than-expected ticket sales for the Concerts in the Garden. How did the orchestra’s financial situation get so dire?”
Cliffhanger: Orchestra Performs At Edge Of Yosemite Cliff
One might think it odd to stage a symphony at Glacier Point. But according to Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman, “From the signing of the Yosemite Grant to the present day, the arts have played a significant role in the creation and continued interest in preserving these public places.” Yosemite sparkles in Ansel Adams’ photos. It is illuminated by John Muir’s prose. Yosemite has a new artistic champion in Les Marsden, the conductor of the Mariposa orchestra.