The Kimmel’s World-Class, Stunning, Beautiful And Unique Settlement

Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center and architect Rafael Vinoly have reached an out-of-court settlement on Kimmel complaints about the building. It must have been some settlement. The joint statement says: “the Kimmel Center recognizes that the Viñoly-designed and delivered Kimmel Center is a stunning, state-of-the-art concert hall that attracts world-class artists. It is one of the most beautiful and unique buildings of its kind in the world, a world-class performing arts center, a wonderful civic space, and an economic engine for the entire area. As one of the best facilities of its kind anywhere, it has achieved its goal of becoming a cultural center for all tastes.”

Almost As Many Searches As People

Computer users conducting a record number of internet searches in January. “Nielsen//NetRatings reports an all-time high search total of 5.7 billion searches in January, up from 4 million in January 2005. Meanwhile, comScore Networks says Americans made 5.48 billion searches in January, up from 4.95 billion a year earlier.”

Another Proposal For Louisville Orchestra Musicians

Louisville Orchestra management has made a new proposal to its musicians. The orchestra would be “a two-tiered structure with 55 full-time and 19 part-time players. Last month management had offered a plan with 53 full-time and 21 part-time players. Management also offered to pay a $5,000 bonus to each of 16 players who are now full-time but who would become part-timers.”

Cross-Cultural Translation

After ‘It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp’ won best song at the Oscars, it rocketed in popularity. “Why this song? Why now? When ‘white’ culture borrows from ‘black’ culture, it doesn’t necessarily borrow what it thinks it’s borrowing. The real meaning of the song, its reference to pimps, its role within a movie documenting the often pathetic efforts at stardom of a pimp who also makes music, isn’t particularly relevant. When a piece of cultural stuff makes the transition into the mainstream, it often does so on terms entirely different from what it originally meant.”

Washington Ballet Contract To Clarify Dancers’ Security?

“The flexibility allowed to Artistic Director Septime Webre had been a key issue. Disagreements over such issues as how and when he could dismiss dancers, how he could expand his roster with the use of students from the Washington Ballet’s school, and how many dancers he would be required to employ — which the ballet viewed as stepping into areas of artistic control — were the chief reasons the contract process took so long.”

Website Ranks Artists And Their Market Value

A new website has developed a mathematical formula to determine where in the food chain any artist lives. “Today, nearly 60,000 internationally recognised artists are listed. The number of points awarded reflects the importance of the artist in the eyes of the curators who select the artists for exhibitions. From these charts it is possible to get an idea of an artist’s standing on the international exhibition circuit. The key points from the prediction point of view are the sudden rises in the flow charts which suggest the revaluation of an artist’s career or the blossoming of a new one.”

Art Thieves Hit Rio Again

For the second time in ten days, art thieves have scored a major heist in Rio. “Two armed men burst into the Rio City Museum and took gold and silver relics from Brazil’s empire era said to be of ‘incalculable historic value’. The 11 stolen items include an ivory sabre and a pearl and silver foil.”

Author: Da Vinci Code Claims Exaggerated

One of the authors suing Dan Brown, claiming Brown stole details for the Da Vinci Code plot, has admitted he exaggerated his claims. “Michael Baigent had claimed 15 points central to the plot of Brown’s novel had been taken from a 1982 non-fiction book he wrote with two other authors. As the case resumed at the High Court in London, however, Mr Baigent said his language had been ‘infelicitous’.”