Three Seattle women sit at typewriters in public places, turning out instant poetry for anyone who stops by. “In a city built on industrial cyberspace, these three performers are putting ink-stained paper in the hands of people and getting them to prattle over it. And they earn just enough money – $1 a poem (they’ll write 50 this night) – to keep themselves in typing ribbon.” – USA Today
Tag: 02.09.00
THE FIRST E-BOOKS —
— begin showing up in traditional bookstores, available alongside the latest hardback Grisham. – Wired
POST-SOVIET CULTURE
As the Soviet Union’s much-vaunted culture machine began to break down after the country’s breakup, many Soviet artists fled to the West. Vladimir Spivakov, one of Russia’s top violinists and conductors and founder of the Moscow Virtuosi, chose to continue working in his homeland. Now he may take on the ambitious new Moscow Cultural Center. – The Telegraph (UK)
CBS DISTRESS
The TV network has for several months been inserting “digital billboards” – promotional ads into the backgrounds of some of the stories it has covered on news programs, most famously on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Now CBS is threatening legal action against a team of Ohio sampler-jockeys for using digital snips of CBS broadcasts – including Dan Rather’s voice – in their digital montages. – Wired 02/09/00
BERLINALE
A new Berlin awaits this year’s attendees at the Berlin Film Festival. Founded in 1951 in a politically motivated act to add glamour to the divided, occupied city, the Berlinale has ballooned to one of the world’s premiere film events. – Die Welt (Germany) 02/09/00
- Berlin Festival still struggling for respect. – The Oregonian (AP) 02/08/00
A VISION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY
For 22 years playwright August Wilson has been writing plays to tell a story of Black American history of the 20th Century; along the way refinements, but the goal has remained constant. – Chicago Tribune