The internet is all about niches, right? But with a billion people online, some of those “niches” are getting pretty darn big. “The Net is chockablock with special-interest sites and services you’ve never heard of but whose user base exceeds the print circulation of The Washington Post.”
Tag: 10.30.06
Colorado Judge Upholds Stage Smoking Ban
A Colorado judge refuses to lift a state ban on smoking for theatre productions. The judge “ruled the act of smoking, even in performance, ‘is not inherently an expressive behavior,’ and therefore does not qualify for free-speech protections under the U.S. constitution. The plaintiffs had argued that any action performed on a stage – from a gesture to body language to smoking – communicates a meaningful artistic expression that must be protected.”
Iraqi National Folklore Group – Dancing Through Adversity
“Together they are a band of 10 women and 15 men from varied religious backgrounds. Once they toured the world together. Today they are simply trying to survive, hoping one day to thrive again as a troupe. But the religiosity sweeping Iraq does not bode well for their future.”
To Tell The Truth (The Machine Knows)
Technology is being developed that claims to be able to tell if a person is lying. “In the pipeline are several cheaper, faster, easier-to-use brain-examining technologies, all intended as major improvements on the unreliable chicken-scratching polygraph we use now. Some seem to identify mental preparations for telling a lie even before the liar opens his mouth — verging on mind-reading. Another is meant to work from across the room, even if you do not wish to cooperate.”
Art In The Midterms
What’s this? Arts funding an issue in the American midterm elections? And In Idaho?
UK Copyright Law Needs Overhaul For Digital Age
UK copyright laws are out of date in the digital age, says a new report. “The explosion in the sale of MP3 players means that more people in Britain are copying their music and film collections on to home computers. However, the practice can in theory result in a small fine.” So the law needs to be changed.
Will Korean Pop Storm America?
“K-pop music is already becoming one of Korea’s top cultural exports to other Asian countries. Pop stars like BoA, Rain, Se7en, TVXQ and Shinhwa are overcoming the language barrier with their music, even drawing thousands of fans to their concerts in China, Japan and S
Southeast Asia.” But will the music sell in the US
Looking At A New Pompidou
“Next Tuesday, construction work begins on the new Centre Pompidou-Metz, designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. Situated around 200 miles east of Paris and close to the borders of Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, the city of Metz will be graced with the Pompidou’s first outpost and another extraordinary architectural emblem.”
Bavarian State Opera Takes On A New Future
“With 2,100 seats, its home, the early-19th-century National Theater, is Germany’s largest opera house. The company also boasts Germany’s biggest opera audience (580,000 last season), the most productions (40) and performances (350) per year, and the richest budget ($100 million).” But new leadership means a new path…
The Art-For-Rent Circuit
“High-rent shows, which even the Met is now organizing, perniciously up the ante for museum loans everywhere. These days, loan shows increasingly come not only with reasonable costs but also with kickbacks.”