Isn’t the ‘crisis of democracy’ old news? Absolutely. It’s as ancient as democracy itself. Still, present circumstances raise the question as to whether we can look ahead to a time after the crisis. What does it mean to be ‘forward-looking’ in times like ours? The fear that drives much of contemporary political culture is caused by the disruptions that global complexity and a destabilised planet introduce into what was once called the body politic. – Eurozine
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AMC Raises $100M, Slams Warner, And Says It’ll Be Out Of Money By January
In its latest warning cry, it said it needs $750 million “to remain viable” through 2021. Even if it raises that, it still risks bankruptcy next year if moviegoing doesn’t pick up — and Warner Bros. may have made that harder to accomplish. – Deadline
Why Are Literary Folk So Disdainful Of Self-Help Books?
Beth Blum makes a compelling case for self-help as an important “shadow genre” for literature – worthy of study in itself and also for what it reveals over time about readers’ habits, desires and values. – Times Literary Supplement
UK Moves To Protect Garden Treasures
As the growing popularity of metal detecting as a hobby meant that more historical objects were being found, museums have missed out on items of archaeological significance that did not fall within the law’s definition, including Bronze Age axes, Iron Age caldrons, and medieval weapons and jewelry. In 2017, 1,267 pieces went through the process in which a committee determines whether an item should be considered a treasure, up from 79 pieces in 1997. – The New York Times
Amsterdam Is Going To Regulate People’s Christmas Lights
According to rules going into effect next year, all lights in outdoor displays must be LEDs, and 70% (90% in the historic city center) must be “warm white.” (Rules for the historic district have even more detailed specifications.) “The city’s crackdown on excessive Xmas cheer was spurred by a recent lighting-display arms race raging among residents and building owners.” – CityLab
Spoiler Alert: How Much Info In A Review Is Too Much?
“Spoiler culture” has become the preferred term for the angry whiplash of consumers who don’t want to know anything — and I mean anything — about a particular work of art or entertainment ahead of time. As a cultural phenomenon, spoiler culture has grown in scope and intensity along with the Internet, and it has now reached a level where it’s hard for people like me to get any work done. – Boston Globe
Inside The Flamboyant Self-Destruction Of Johnny Depp
“There are few examples of a movie-star implosion of Depp’s magnitude that have been so sudden and spectacular. … Over the course of four short years, Depp has spiraled from an A-list star responsible for more than $10 billion in worldwide box office to Hollywood persona non grata” — not least because of the calamitous defamation lawsuit he just lost. “It wasn’t just erratic and violent behavior that wrecked one of the world’s most bankable stars. It was his unquenchable thirst for revenge.” – The Hollywood Reporter
Denver’s Tattered Cover Book Store Sold
While local bookstores across the country shuttered in recent years, falling victim to lower prices offered by Amazon, Tattered Cover remained steadfast in its role as a locally owned shop known for drawing revered authors to Denver for book signings. – Denverite
Using AI To Fill In Missing Text From Ancient Babylonian Tablets
“Filling in missing text starts with being able to read and understand the original text. That requires much donkey work. Now an Israeli team [of researchers] has reinvented the donkey in digital form, harnessing artificial intelligence to help complete fragmented Akkadian cuneiform tablets.” – Haaretz (Israel)
The Ancient Monuments Of Karabakh Are Endangered In Latest Conflicts
Alongside the humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement of Armenians, this land transfer also threatens a large number of Armenian monuments located in Karvajar, Kashatagh, Hadrut and Aghdam provinces. – Apollo