“The war veteran who recoils at the sound of a car backfiring, and the recovering drug addict who feels a sudden need for their drug of choice when visiting old haunts have one thing in common: Both are victims of their own memories. New research indicates those memories could actually be extinguished.”
Tag: 09.24.13
Antonia Fraser Cuts Ties To Man Booker Prize
“Lady Antonia Fraser has resigned as an adviser to the Man Booker International Prize (she sits on its e-Council) because she was not consulted about the decision [to open the main prize to writers from all countries, including the U.S.]. ‘I have resigned from the committee since I was not warned about this when I was asked to join in August,’ she tells me.”
The Inflatable Concert Hall Now Touring Japan
“The concert hall, which was established in collaboration with the organisers of Lucerne Festival, consists of a single skin membrane that can be easily inflated or deflated to enable its transportation around the region.”
London Gets A 92nd Street Y-Style Jewish Cultural Centre
Raymond Simonson, direction of the new institution, called JW3: “I’m fed up with the Jewish conversation just being about Israel or antisemitism. I want to talk about Curb Your Enthusiasm instead, and the paintings of Chagall, the music of Amy Winehouse and Woody Allen films.”
For Those North Carolina Folks That Banned Invisible Man, Instant Karma Has Struck
“Ban or no ban, high school students in Randolf County, North Carolina, will have easy access to Invisible Man. Thanks to a former resident, the novel’s publishers will be giving away copies for free.”
Carolyn Cassady, 90, The “Grande Dame Of The Beat Generation”
“[She] was a central figure in the real-life circle of friends whose travels across the country in search of kicks and revelation were immortalized in On the Road. She was the inspiration for the character Camille, the second wife of Dean Moriarty, the ‘wild yea-saying overburst of American joy’ who makes the novel go go go.”
Gay Culture: Not So Much “Dying” As Transitioning
Justin Sayre: “Within that trend [of assimilation with the mainstream], for the first time gay culture can be truly about gay people. You know, in decades past, we always had to siphon out a gay storyline or a gay subtext from mainstream culture. Now we can tell really strong, complex gay stories openly. It’s a much more interesting time, in a way.”
States Question The Worth Of Movie Tax Breaks
“About 40 states offer some sort of incentive to lure Hollywood productions to their precincts. But some have begun to wonder if they’re getting their money’s worth.”
Testing A Theory: Is Jazz Good For Babies?
“Recent studies have shown that improvisation in music triggers areas of the brain to do with individuality and creativity, so not only can our music help in calming babies, but their minds are being gently stimulated by hearing truly creative music as well.”
Is A Piece Of Music A Clue To The Whereabouts Of Nazi Gold?
“In scenes reminiscent of an Indiana Jones movie, a Dutch film-maker has started digging in a Bavarian town, believing annotations made by Hitler’s aide Martin Bormann on a piece of sheet music will guide him to the gold.”