The ‘Not Without My Daughter’ Problem (It Drives Iranian-Americans Nuts)

“‘For Iranian men of my generation and American moms of my mother-in-law’s generation, this is a film that has seared itself into our consciousness,’ says Reza Aslan, an Iranian-American author and religious scholar. Upon the film’s 25th anniversary, it’s an interesting case-study of how early misrepresentations of an ethnicity in popular culture – one that the American public previously had no concept of – never really leave them.”

How Do You Get Millennials To Come Party At Your Museum *And* Stay True To Your Mission? Here’s How

“In recent weeks, the postings on Craigslist have taken on a desperate tone: ‘Looking for two tickets for … Jan 12th. Willing to negotiate price.’ … These hot tickets were for, of all places, the Franklin Institute – more specifically, Science After Hours, the museum’s monthly, no-kids-allowed science rave.”

San Diego Symphony Plans Permanent Outdoor Venue On Waterfront

“The San Diego Symphony won unanimous approval Tuesday to move forward with a $25 million, 10,000-seat waterfront concert venue on San Diego Bay. … Instead of a stage that must be set up and torn down each summer, the permanent facility would include a 4,800-square-foot stage large enough to house all the symphony musicians and covered by an acoustic bandshell.”

‘He Was One Of The Naughtiest Of Great Artists’ – Gerard McBurney On Pierre Boulez

“His humour, like that of many amusing people, is hard to recapture in written words. It depended on his twinkling eyes, his perfect timing, his infectious schoolboy giggle, and his reckless compulsion always to say what the other person would not expect. And, when speaking English, on his Inspector Clouseau accent, which he sometimes played to the hilt.”

You Think “Sesame Street” Will Change When It’s On HBO? Read This And You Judge

“I think the people in charge right now are from a completely different culture and don’t fully understand what they’ve been put in charge of. Hopefully, in time, and by being surrounded by all that fur and all those googly eyes, they will somehow have a Road to Sesame awakening where all the comical throwable rubber fish scales fall from their eyes and they can see clearly which way the Street runs.”

What, Ultimately, Is Prayer Meant To Accomplish?

“Prayer is religion’s hermit crab; it scuttles recognisably from age to age and purpose to purpose, while attempts to refute or confirm are left to grasp its shells. It endures, shaping the mind, altering the body, or reflecting and resisting the forces of modern life. In its irreducible variety and seeming gratuitousness, it remains a puzzle. But if prayer itself resists explanation, it can still be illuminating to map its dimensions.”