Miriam Makeba, The Accidental Activist

“Miriam Makeba, the South African singer known as ‘Mother Africa,’ was celebrated as much for her unwitting activism against apartheid as for her lilting and dramatic voice… [But she maintained that] ‘I am not a political singer. I don’t know what the word means. People think I consciously decided to tell the world what was happening in South Africa. No! I was singing about my life.'”

Mexican Mural Sells For $6.8M

America, a 13-by-15-foot allegorical mural by Rufino Tamayo, has sold for $6.8 million at Sotheby’s. The mural, commissioned in 1995 by Houston’s Bank of the Southwest and sold to a collector in 1993 (and on loan ever since to the Dallas Museum of Art), is one of only five such works still in private hands in the U.S.

Universities Figuring Out How To Follow Their Students Online

“As online courses’ popularity continues to rise, many administrators are struggling with a steep learning curve, one whose ultimate end point is far from being determined. […] No two models are exactly alike, but as colleges experiment with ways to keep their faculty happy and their [online] courses high in quality, evidence of some common practices is emerging.”

Is The Recession Hurting Reality TV?

Unscripted shows such as Survivor, Deal or No Deal and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? are hemorrhaging viewers. Some of this is overexposure and the age of the shows, but can the plummeting ratings be blamed on the recession? “Well, hard times may not have any direct effect on what people choose to watch. But there’s little doubt that during times of upheaval, viewers’ tastes can shift.”

Musicians On Fire

The wildfires ravaging Southern California are producing some stunning video. “A group of classical musicians on their way to a Riverside Philharmonic concert this weekend were on the 91 freeway as the fire literally crossed it.” Being musicians, they filmed their adventure and set it to a Shostakovich soundtrack…

Another Orchestra On The Brink

“In its 72-year history, the Charleston [SC] Symphony Orchestra has had its moments of near demise. But rarely have things looked this bleak. CSO board president Ted Legasey shocked some audience members Saturday during intermission of the Masterworks concert when he announced they could be attending the final CSO concert of 2008 unless the group raises $250,000 immediately to pay for the month of December.”

Governor-General’s Literary Award Winners Revealed

Nino Ricci won the English-language fiction award for The Origin of Species, while two Globe and Mail writers took honors for non-fiction (Christie Blatchford for Fifteen Days, about Canadian Army units in Afghanistan) and children’s literature (John Ibbitson for The Landing). The prizes, seven each for English- and French-language work, are worth C$25,000.