The palace of Nero is closing abruptly for emergency repairs and will be closed for at least two years. “Leaking water is threatening the palace’s frescoed walls. The estimated the cost of repairs is five million euros ($6.8 million). Ministry archaeologists said a full-blown restoration of the palace and the surrounding area would cost 130 million euros ($179 million) over 10 years.
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Whitbread Pulls Out Of Book Awards
Retailer Whitbread is pulling out of sponsoring its annual book awards. “The hotel and restaurant firm, which set up the awards in 1971, says it is pulling out because it no longer sells products using the Whitbread name. It is looking to find a new sponsor for the book awards, which include the £25,000 book of the year prize.”
The Howard Stern Test – Satellite Radio On the Line
“The move from terrestrial to satellite raises numerous questions, among them: How many of Stern’s estimated 12 million daily listeners will pay $12.95 per month to continue their Howard habit, and will the FCC bow to growing political pressure to rein in cable and satellite content? But one thing is clear: Whether you see Stern as a trend-setting revolutionary or an aging schlockmeister who wants to sink even lower without FCC interference, his shows on Sirius will stamp the largely virginal medium with new benchmarks and standards for taste and decency.”
Figuring Out A Model For Colorado Ballet’s New Leader
“The Colorado Ballet’s choice of its next artistic director is critical to the organization’s very survival. And a key factor in that selection is determining whether the person should be a choreographer and, if so, how much that choreography should shape his or her tenure.”
In An On-Demand World… More Choice On Cable?
“Consumers expect customized selections in everything from iPod playlists to on-demand news. So no one should be surprised that a battle is brewing over cable-TV offerings that is drawing in consumer activists, Christian groups, children’s advocates, Congress, cable companies and those concerned about whether government should exert any control over cable content.”
The Congressman And His Movie Script
California Republican Dana Rohrabacher has written a screen play. “I said [to my friend], ‘What do I write about?’ ” Rohrabacher recalled. “He said, ‘Dana, write about what you like to do. What do you like to do?’ I said, ‘Well, I like to go down to Mexico, drink tequila and chase women.’ So he goes, ‘Well, write a story that includes going down to Mexico, drinking tequila and chasing women.’ And I said, ‘Why don’t we make it a treasure story?’ “
The New Istanbul Modern – City Of Ferment?
“The Istanbul Modern’s chief curator, Rosa Martínez, calls the museum’s opening ‘a strong aesthetic, social and political statement’ about Turkey’s will ‘to live together with the other European countries.’ Indeed, the plan to build a contemporary museum in the city’s heart had stalled for years until Erdogan’s government cleared the way. Can art in Istanbul remain immune to political pressure or even criticize the status quo? Or will this art be co-opted by political and economic forces?”
Berlin’s Rattle Effect
“Simon Rattle — or ‘Sir Simon,’ as the Germans love to call him — is revolutionizing Berlin, both the Philharmonic and the city’s musical life. The brass may gleam as brightly as ever, the winds glisten and the strings shine. But after three Rattle seasons, the Berlin Philharmonic is a different band than it has ever been, with a less defined sound, a much broader repertory, a new relationship to its community and a new spring to its step. Not everyone is happy.”
Computers Are Smarter Than Humans
“The latest evidence comes from Bilbao, Spain. where another tournament pitting world-class grandmasters against state-of-the-art computers ended in a semi-rout. The machines won five games, drew six and lost only once against the likes of Ruslan Ponomariev, Alexander Khalifman and Rustam Kasimdzhanov.”
On Broadway – Where Are The Women Directors?
“Of the 39 plays and musicals that opened on Broadway this year, 3 were directed by women. Of the 34 new shows in 2004, women directed 2. These are not particularly encouraging figures for those looking for the new female directorial voices. Many women can be found directing shows off Broadway and running regional theaters, but the best-known and biggest-budget venue has not been all that welcoming.”