The third season, which stars Olivia Colman as the Queen, was watched in 21 million homes in its first four weeks. That was 40% more than saw the second season over the same time period, Netflix said. – BBC
Blog
Remembering Fellini On His 100th Birthday
Anthony Lane: “Fellini is the great divider. “La Dolce Vita” was the film most loved by Roger Ebert, for whom it was transformed with every viewing, whereas Pauline Kael likened Fellini’s efforts to “poking your head into a sack of fertilizer and then becoming indignant because you’re covered with excrement.” – The New Yorker
How Self-Help Books Have Influenced Literature
Serious authors create; self-help writers multiply. But the influence of self-help on prestigious literature is much deeper and more sustained than figures such as Macdonald would have us believe. – Aeon
San Jose Opera’s New Direction
Since taking over as general director in October, Khori Dastoor, 39, has been on a tear behind the scenes — beefing up staffing levels, setting ambitious financial goals and consulting with members of the tech community for data-driven ways of attracting new subscribers to the 36-year-old company. – San Francisco Chronicle
Shows That Won’t Let You Back In If You Leave Make It Hard For Physically Challenged People
Sitting through a show of that length might seem manageable enough if you’re young and in good health, less so if you have a medical condition like Crohn’s disease or other hidden disability, you’re pregnant or you’re experiencing the menstrual equivalent of the elevator scene in The Shining. If someone leaves during a performance, it’s usually because they don’t have much of a choice. – The Stage
New Crop Of Plays Treats History Of Blacks In Britain
“From an African girl who was ‘gifted’ to Queen Victoria to a slave who took on his master in a British court, several little-known but remarkable chapters of black British history are being put in the spotlight on stage this year.” – BBC
Recent Listening In Brief: Yelena Eckemoff
Yelena Eckemoff, Nocturnal Animals (L&H Productions)
Russian-born pianist and composer Eckemoff, long a New York resident, collaborates with a superb rhythm section of Scandinavian musicians. They are inspired by creatures that populate the world’s forests of the night. – Doug Ramsey
When Your Body Art Gets In The Way Of Life… Take It Off
Tattoos can be a barrier for people getting out of prison. They can make it hard to find jobs, to feel safe in certain neighborhoods, to reconcile with family and to leave the past behind. Now there are programs to help inmates with tattoos wipe the slate clean. – NPR
The Man Who Invented The Laser Printer, Gary Starkweather, Dead At 81
“While officially working on a fax machine project, Mr. Starkweather began to experiment in his spare time with copy machines and digital technology, in effect trying to merge the two. … [His] supervisor at Xerox discouraged his experiments, calling lasers ‘toys’ … [and later] and threatened to lay off Mr. Starkweather’s entire staff.” Now, says the company’s chief technology officer, “The laser printer is arguably the greatest invention made in a Xerox research center.” – The Washington Post
Social Media Influencers Are Changing The Face Of Dance
Commercial dancers — the performers who animate music videos, films and TV shows — have long needed the right look, the right connections, expertise in the most popular styles and an agency to access coveted jobs. Now, however, video and social media have democratized who can succeed in the industry. – Los Angeles Times