US Customs Seizes Long-Missing Pompeii Fresco

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today seized a Pompeii wall panel fresco from a Manhattan auction house that was reported stolen in Italy 12 years ago. … The panel, rectangular with a white background depicting a female minister, white wash on plaster with a modern wooden frame, was previously located at the excavation office in Pompeii.”

U.K. Aims To Team With U.S. To Combat Illegal Downloads

“The U.K. government wants to cooperate with the U.S. to curb illegal downloads of music, films and TV shows. In a press confab with media scribes, Media Minister Andy Burnham said, ‘It’s my aim that we develop an international consensus on illegal downloading.’ … But the media minister ruled out criminal sanctions for people who download content for free.”

Fixing Broken Instruments In A Broken Territory

“[A]fter absorbing lessons from visiting volunteer luthiers and a three-month apprenticeship in Italy, Mr. Shelaldeh, 18, has his own instrument repair shop. It is in a former garage around the corner from the [Ramallah] music center, Al Kamandjati (‘the Violinist’). He has learned to fix instruments and replace the hair on bows. He has already made two violins, one with a tiny Palestinian flag on the tailpiece, which anchors the strings.”

Better No Shakespeare Than Shakespeare Poorly Done

“Classical theater requires study and training from its actors. Competency at performing contemporary theater does not automatically translate into an ability to make Shakespeare clear and accessible to audiences. … That brings us around to the question of whether a community is better off without Shakespeare if the alternative is poorly executed productions of his work. I believe you do it well or you don’t do it.”