“When I saw that the Vue chain of cinemas had banned children from certain performances, such as the new James Bond film, at first I had some sympathy with the decision.” But not for long — and not only because young adults tend to be more obnoxious than kids at the movies. “It’s by going to [things with their parents], over time, that children learn how to behave properly. And it’s by leaving their children behind that adults learn how to behave badly.”
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
At The End Of The Day, A List Of Annoying Expressions
“Not all University of Oxford researchers are uptight and humorless, ‘irregardless’ of what you might think. In fact, a bunch of them compiled a list of the Top 10 Most Irritating Expressions in the English language — just because we needed one.”
Higher Taxes For Wealthy Under Obama Could Spur Giving
“Charity leaders can expect President-elect Barack Obama and Congress to push for changes in the federal tax structure that could spur giving and add new regulations for charities and donors, tax experts say. With Mr. Obama and Congress facing a recession and grappling with establishing a new strategy for the war in Iraq, those changes aren’t likely to come quickly. Nonetheless, they could be significant.”
Playwrights’ XX Chromosomes A Barrier To The Stage
“Let’s call this drama: Many Women Playwrights in Search of a Stage. Because if you write plays and have the wrong chromosomes, you’re in for a lot of frustration in New York.” A meeting on the issue last week at New Dramatists moved the conversation forward, but just barely.
In This Economy, Bold Artistry May Be Ticket To Survival
Announcing its citywide “Ring” festival this week amid the general financial cataclysm, “L.A. Opera may very well be motivated by desperation. But it is also L.A. Opera’s leap of artistic imagination with this production that has provided it with the stimulus to think big. … The Pasadena Symphony and Pacific Opera, on the contrary, represent failures of imagination.”
As Financial Terrain Shifts, California Arts Orgs Scramble
Eli Broad, whose foundation is down 18 percent in value, put it bluntly: “‘It can’t be business as usual for the next several years.’ Arts organizations throughout Southern California are scrambling in the face of declining ticket sales and donor contributions. This week brought news of layoffs and concert cancellations by the Pasadena Symphony and of the possible collapse of Opera Pacific, Orange County’s only professional opera company.”
Comedians: Nope, The Election Didn’t Wreck Our Jobs
“[T]he shifting political landscape is … a perilous one to make fun of, and many questions remain unsettled, even for those who are paid to do the mockery. What’s funny, and what’s fair game, about a President Barack Obama? Is it too soon to start ridiculing his achievement? Can blacks make fun of him? Can whites? No two comedians seemed to have the same answers to any of these questions.”
Eduardo Diaz Named To Lead Smithsonian Latino Center
“Eduardo Diaz, executive director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, was appointed yesterday to lead the Smithsonian Latino Center. Diaz replaces Pilar O’Leary, who resigned in February after an internal investigation showed that she violated ethics policies by trying to steer a contract to a friend and abusing her expense account.”
Citing Economy, St. Louis Art Museum Delays Expansion
“The St. Louis Art Museum has decided to delay the groundbreaking of its $125 million expansion. The museum’s Board of Commissioners cited the current financial markets for the move.”
Hot Market For Asian Art Cools Substantially In London
“Buyers were reluctant to make expensive purchases at this week’s Asian Art in London promotion, dealers said, after a 2.5 million-pound ($3.95 million) Buddha was withdrawn on the morning of Sotheby’s Nov. 5 auction of Chinese works of art.”