“Random House has ended a literary dispute over a biography of Carl Gustav Jung by publishing a new version this month in Germany without special annotations and material from the Swiss heirs who had complained about ‘factual errors’ and ‘misleading’ information about the psychiatrist.”
Tag: 10.13.05
Did You Know You’ve Been 20 Percent Patented?
“A new study shows that 20 percent of human genes have been patented in the United States, primarily by private firms and universities. Researchers can patent genes because they are potentially valuable research tools, useful in diagnostic tests or to discover and produce new drugs. ‘It might come as a surprise to many people that in the U.S. patent system human DNA is treated like other natural chemical products’.”
Bussell Says She’ll Retire
Royal Ballet star Darcey Bussell says she’ll retire at the end of this season. “Bussell, 36, says the current season will be her last as a principal dancer with the company as she wants to spend more time with her family. ‘I have always wanted to end my full-time career still dancing the full classical repertoire at the standard to which I aspire’.”
Clear Channel Fires Employees In Payola Probe
Radio giant Clear Channel has fired employees involved in two payola scandals. “Clear Channel said an internal investigation found two cases with evidence of wrongdoing, and those involved have been fired. The statement did not specify how many people were fired in the two incidents.”
Smithsonian Sells The Names Of Two Museums
In return for a $45 million donation, the Smithsonian says the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation will get its name on two museums. “The Las Vegas-based foundation, now the second largest donor in the Smithsonian’s history with a total contribution of $75 million, directed its new multimillion-dollar support to the renovation and exhibitions at the landmark building. The National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum will retain their individual names.”
Students Point To Truth About The Publishing Business
Students at a Canadian college were given an assignment – develop a publishing business. “So what did these aspiring publishers, mostly in their 20s with a few senior faces among them, tell us about publishing? Well, the first inescapable fact was that not a single one of those five proposed publishing houses planned to publish fiction. No novels, short stories and definitely, as Scott Griffin, founder of the world’s most lucrative poetry prize pointed out, no poetry.”
What Made The National Book Awards Finals
Historical novels dominate this year’s nominees. “In contrast to last year, when unknown names dominated the list, several other recognized and respected authors were also included.”
US Against The World On UNESCO Initiative
The United States is opposing a major new UNESCO convention on cultural diversity. “The convention’s supporters argue that the treaty will protect and promote cultural diversity in the face of cultural globalization, but the United States believes it is intended to restrict exports of American audiovisual products, particularly Hollywood movies and television programs.”
Beethoven As He Edited
A Beethoven manuscript missing for 115 years has resurfaced. “It was a working manuscript score for a piano version of Beethoven’s “Grosse Fuge,” a monument of classical music. And it was in the composer’s own hand, according to Sotheby’s auction house. The 80-page manuscript in mainly brown ink – a furious scattering of notes across the page, with many changes and cross-outs, some so deep that the paper is punctured – dates from the final months of Beethoven’s life.”
Bennett: Boycott Book Chains
Author Alan Bennett is urging readers to boycott major chain bookstores and buy at independent book shops. “I’m not trying to do Waterstone’s down, but all the big chains heavily discount the book, the worst being Amazon. This will drive independent booksellers out of business. In my local bookshop in Camden Town, that happened about three weeks ago. It makes the whole street much duller. So if you can afford it, go to an independent bookseller.”