Festivals are expensive. Toronto’s an expensive city. Lots of entertainment choices. And what if people don’t buy what you’re offering? – Toronto Star
Author: Douglas McLennan
Man Convicted Of Trying To Sell Fake Francis Bacon On EBay
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said he had “deliberately aimed to mislead the public into believing he was selling a famed 1952 original” – which was stolen in 1988. – BBC
Jay Z Is The First Rapper Billionaire
Forbes says the husband of singer Beyonce has succeeded because he built brands rather than just endorsed them. In its rankings, Forbes rejected claims that rapper and producer Dr Dre had reached billionaire status. – BBC
Two Mexican Artists Deported From Cuba, Accused Of Trying To “Subvert” Havana Biennial
On the day of the opening of their exhibition Impulso in old Havana, the artists Jesus Benitez and his colleague, who has asked not to disclose her name in press in fear of further repercussions, were detained and interrogated by Cuban police for six hours. The artists were then deported back to Mexico from the Havana airport. – Hyperallergic
Charter Schools Were Supposed To Help Save Education. But Things Have Turned Sour
This is no small shift. For the past quarter-century, the charter school movement has been a juggernaut. Charters were originally devised by technocrats hoping to inject “free market dogmas into the public sector,” as Rachel Cohen wrote in the journal Democracy. The idea was expertly packaged and sold for a broad audience — as a low-cost way to advance the twin aims of excellence and equity. – Washington Post
Trump Administration Bans Tourist And Educational Travel To Cuba
The Treasury Department said in a statement that the U.S. will no longer allow the group educational and cultural trips known as “people to people” travel to the island. Those trips have been used by thousands of American citizens to visit the island even before the U.S. restored full diplomatic relations with the communist government in December 2014. – PBS News Hour
Why Is It Considered Acceptable To Exploit Arts Workers?
Rates of pay haven’t increased, as the cost of living continues to climb and, anecdotally, some arts workers are being asked by funders to justify their salaries, in a way that wouldn’t be required, at that level of remuneration, in any other industry. So why is it considered not only acceptable, but entirely appropriate in the arts? – Irish Times
The World Has Become Too Popular – Crowds Are Ruining Everything From The Louvre To Everest
“This phenomenon is known as overtourism, and like breakfast margaritas on an all-inclusive cruise, it is suddenly everywhere. A confluence of macroeconomic factors and changing business trends have led more tourists crowding to popular destinations. That has led to environmental degradation, dangerous conditions, and the immiseration and pricing-out of locals in many places. And it has cities around the world asking one question: Is there anything to be done about being too popular?” – The Atlantic
Can Algorithms Show Us Who To Trust?
Companies like Trust Science have put algorithms on the market that can help compile trustworthiness profiles of individuals and organizations. But does AI really possess such a “social” skill? This is an important question to ask because trust requires socially sensitive skills that are perceived to be uniquely human. So can algorithms providing advice in this area of human interaction be accepted by human decision-makers? – Harvard Business Review
The Video Game That Became A Social Network That Makes Participants Feel Better (Says This Research)
A survey by National Research Group says weekly Fortnite players now spend 21% of their free time with the game, and spend 3% less time on social media, which now accounts for 16% of players’ free time. – Fast Company