After over 200 studies, we know that the more people endorse materialism, the worse their wellbeing. They’re less empathic, less prosocial, more competitive. They’re less likely to support environmental sustainability. They’re more likely to endorse prejudicial and discriminatory beliefs.” And you know, that sounds like what’s wrong with YouTube. –Wired
Blog
Google Is Building A Massive New Smart City In Toronto. Here’s What It Will Look Like
Sidewalk Labs, the smart-city startup from Google parent company Alphabet, has released its master innovation and development plan to turn a sizable swath of Toronto’s Lake Ontario shoreline into “the most innovative district in the entire world.” – CityLab
Arts Council England Plans To Include “Relevance” In Funding Criteria
“Most of us already lead creative and cultural lives: we join book clubs, we take craft classes, we stream music,” the strategy document says. “The task for the Arts Council is to enable more people to take advantage of more opportunities to develop and express their creativity, and to support them to engage with the widest possible range of culture.” – Arts Professional
Large Study: Students Who Study Music Do Better In Other Subjects
“It is believed that students who spend school time in music classes, rather than further developing their skills in math, science, and English classes, will underperform in those disciplines. Our research suggests that, in fact, the more they study music, the better they do in those subjects.” – Pacific Standard
NRA Shuts Down Production Of NRA TV, Amid Financial, Political Crisis
The development is the latest in what has been a tumultuous year for the N.R.A. It has struggled to right its finances; faced investigations in Congress and by Letitia James, the New York attorney general; and witnessed a leadership struggle that pitted Oliver North, the N.R.A.’s former president, against Mr. LaPierre. – New York Times
What Makes A Successful Theatre Artistic Director? Voices, Courage…
Joseph Haj: “When I see artistic directors who have a five-show season directing three of the shows, I think: nobody’s that interesting, nobody. I don’t care how beautiful and thrilling a maker you are, your community deserves and wants a variety of aesthetics and voices and approaches. I don’t want a season that looks too much like me.” – HowlRound
The Hottest Attraction At England’s Biggest Rock Festival Is Not A Band
It’s a 140-ton, 100-foot crane that used to lift freight at the docks in Bristol. Now — decked out with multiple speakers that shoot flames into the air, all powered by a generator that runs on recycled frying oil — it’s the center of the nighttime dance floor at the Glastonbury Festival. – The Guardian
The Grace of Uzbek Dance
What struck me watching Zamira Aminova in Bukhara was that, although her movements were not as complex as others I’ve seen, she never stopped seeming to float like a leaf on the wind. That takes strength. – Michal Shapiro
What Happened to Nelson Algren?
The New York Times Book Review has finally covered Never a Lovely So Real, Colin Asher’s Algren biography, and Susan Jacoby’s honest, well-reported review sets a judicious standard. – Jan Herman
Greta Matassa In L.A.
Following the recent Rifftides review of her new album, we thought you’d enjoy Ms. Matassa and friends in a Gershwin medley. – Doug Ramsey