“If we truly believe in values that we can all identify with and aspire to – a recognition of truth, an understanding of science, an appreciation of the self, a respect for life and a faith in society – then we need to eliminate obstacles to understanding, uphold the fundamental definition of humanity, affirm the shared value of human lives and other lives, and acknowledge the symbiotic interdependency of human beings and the environment.” – The Guardian
Author: Douglas McLennan
19-Year-Old Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason On His Life-Changing Year
He rocketed to fame after performing at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding. “If his star was already in the ascendant before 2018, becoming the first black instrumentalist to win the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year in 2016, it has entered another stratosphere. “- The Guardian
Is Netflix’s Streaming Dominance Coming To An End?
“Netflix is facing increased competition from some of its previous content suppliers,” said Richard Broughton, an analyst at Ampere Analysis. “Despite its major focus on original content the company is still hugely reliant on licensed content for subscribers and that carries risks.” – The Guardian
Does “Catcher In The Rye” Still Resonate All These Years Later?
“The Catcher in the Rye” was not originally marketed as a book for teens, but they responded to it as their anthem: More than 65 million copies have been sold. I suspect, though, that the novel wouldn’t be such a phenomenon if it debuted today. – Washington Post
Back To The Future? American News Media’s Post-Ad Model
“As the news business shifts back from advertisers to patrons and readers (that is to say, subscribers), journalism might escape that “view from nowhere” purgatory and speak straightforwardly about the world in a way that might have seemed presumptuous in a mid-century newspaper. Journalism could be more political again, but also more engaging again.” – The Atlantic
How Americans’ Attitudes About Life Have Changed (As Chronicled By 80 Years Of Polling)
“We looked in those archives to find a range of questions, dating as far back as 1938, that explored how earlier generations felt about everything from fashion to faith in Congress to fear of technological change. Then, in conjunction with YouGov, we asked 1,000 Americans today to respond to those same queries. – Huffington Post
How Netflix Might Change The Movie Industry
“Netflix has clearly taken over TV in the last 10 years. It does not seem crazy to believe that they can do the same to the movie biz as they accelerate film production.” – Axios
A Correlation Between Higher IQ And Happiness?
The researchers found that both IQ and emotional intelligence were independently correlated with well-being. IQ was positively correlated with personal relationships, self-acceptance, personal growth, mastery, and purpose in life. Emotional intelligence was correlated with the same well-being measures, but was additionally related to a sense of autonomy in life. – Scientific American
Montreal Music Critic Claude Gingras, 87
The longtime music critic for Montreal’s La Presse was from a different era, and was not shy to pronounce… – La Presse
A 4000-Year History Of New Year’s Resolutions
Turns out, it’s a time-honored tradition that started about 4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians. Beginning with a 12-day religious festival (are we seeing a modern equivalent here?) called Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or re-upped their devotion to the sitting ruler. At this time they also pledged to pay debts and return borrowed goods to keep in good standing with their gods. – Fast Company