Rare Book Market Roiled By Bible Buyers

“With a goal of establishing a national Bible museum of great depth and size, the evangelical Christian family behind the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores has been spending heavily to amass a collection that has set dealers buzzing in the staid world of rare books. Specialists estimate the family has bought illuminated, or decorated, manuscripts, Torahs, papyri and other works worth $20 million to $40 million.”

Onward To Z, Y’all! Dictionary Of American Regional English Almost Complete

“[It’s] surprising how many different names Americans have for that strip of ground between the sidewalk and the street: ‘boulevard,’ ‘grass plot,’ ‘parkway’ and ‘tree bank’ are among them. So after a child abductor in the ’90s left a note demanding that ransom be deposited in a trash can ‘on the devil strip’ at an intersection, a forensic linguist used this dictionary to help solve the crime.”

Some Heresy For Your Sunday: U.S. Regional Orchestras May Not Be Worth Saving

Terry Teachout: “What, if anything, justifies the existence of a regional symphony orchestra in the 21st century? Many people still believe that an orchestra is a self-evidently essential part of what makes a city civilized. But is this true? … The best regional theater companies and museums provide an aesthetic experience that cannot be duplicated by any other means. Not so third-tier orchestras.”

Gray-Haired Classical Audience Dances, Hollers And Tokes: Zappa At The Ojai Festival

“Bring an esoteric 30-year-old German ensemble that specializes in extremely complex, sometimes inscrutable, music to perform on the West Coast for the first time. Program the concert with works of a dead white guy with an Italian name. And what do you get? … That’s right, a bowl full of seniors who swayed and danced in their seats. Who whooped and hollered and whistled. Who appeared to have a working knowledge of controlled substances.”