“After 17 World Cups, there’s now a mass of empirical data, and, using the most sophisticated methods available, we can now determine the political and economic conditions that yield soccer glory…”
Blog
PBS Is Getting Tough On On-Air Swearing
The new PBS policy includes blurring peoples’ mouths to prevent viewers from seeing the “obscenity”. “PBS officials and filmmakers say they’ve long taken care to ensure that their shows don’t use swear words gratuitously. But cursing is sometimes necessary, in service of the truth, said Ken Burns , the veteran documentarian.”
Chicago’s Barenboim Years – Progress But Not Affection
“A door has not exactly been slammed shut. But the Barenboim years in the Windy City were not marked by a mutual affection that might have left both sides with a more enduring relationship. Barenboim’s departure, made public two years ago, came by mutual consent: he, frustrated at having to combine musical stewardship with the glad-handing of potential donors; they unsure of his commitment to audience-building at a time of falling subscriptions.”
Competition Shuts Down Arizona Youth Orchestra
The Arizona Youth Symphony is shutting down after only six seasons. Its founder cites the establishment of the new Mesa Youth Symphony Orchestra as the cause. “Wal-Mart moved in next door to TrueValue; that’s basically what happened,” he said. “We’ve had such good seasons, the idea of not being able to be as good as I was, I thought I’d better not. That’s why I didn’t.”
Denver Gets A New Set Of Theatre Awards
“Denver Center took home eight out of 20 awards – including best season for a theater company – during the event at Denver Civic Theatre. The new awards, administered by the Colorado Theatre Guild, are named after local theater veteran Henry Lowenstein.”
Joffrey Celebrates Rebirth In Chicago
It’s been ten years since the Joffrey Ballet moved to Chicago, and the company’s in fine shape. “The gala was already a confirmed sellout, with more than 1,100 guests and an estimated $1.6 million raised for the Joffrey. But it also was a grand reunion of 130 dancers who had, at one time or another, been part of the Joffrey company, and who still, after all these years, ‘looked mahvelous’.”
A Controversial Shakeup At The Brooklyn Museum
“Beginning next month, the museum will do away with traditional departments like Egyptian art, African art and European painting and instead create two ‘teams,’ one for collections and one for exhibitions. Arnold L. Lehman, the museum’s director, said in an interview that the changes were intended to make the museum’s relatively small curatorial staff more efficient and to encourage curators to exchange ideas more freely. But some curators see the changes as a way of diminishing their traditional power to conceive, propose and organize exhibitions.”
CBC Kicks National News For Reality Show
Canada’s CBC is bumping its nightly network news broadcast one night a week in the fall for… an American reality show. “The CBC, which unveiled its upcoming season last week, is rumbling through a populist reinvention. New executives have been strapped into the sputtering rocketship as the network attempts to modify its trajectory to avoid more crash landings on Planet Yawn.”
One Man’s Ordeal Over Broken Vases
“In January, Nick Flynn was caught on camera as he fell down a staircase at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, smashing three 17th-century vases worth an estimated £500,000. He blamed an untied shoelace, but the authorities weren’t so sure. Then on Tuesday, police said they would not press charges.” Still, it’s been a six-month ordeal…
Royal Ballet Steps Out/In To The Past
London’s Royal Ballet tries to revive a glorious past with “Sleeping Beauty.” “Nostalgia is the key word, and American audiences are probably fortunate to have less of it, in regard to this production, than English ballet lovers. The English have fussed over this ballet, and this production, for 60 years now. Would it hamper the company if it were addicted to the popular, big-production story ballets? Can the company grow if it is constantly looking back to a rose-tinted vision of the past?”