“A long-lost fragment of manuscript, … written from right to left in Leonardo’s characteristic mirror-writing, was among 5,000 documents donated to the city of Nantes in 1872 by wealthy collector Pierre-Antoine Labouchère, and then left to languish in local archives.”
Tag: 12.06.10
Despite Budget Woes, Chicago Will Expand Its Public Libraries
“The Chicago City Council has spared the Chicago Public Library from the budget knife. And if that were not unusual enough in these hard times, the CPL will also be hiring in preparation for the opening of four new branches this spring.”
Jane Austen Develops a Youth Cult
“The English novelist best known for Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility has been dead since 1817, yet she is drawing a cultish pack of young people, especially young women, known as ‘Janeites’ who are dedicated to celebrating all things Austen.”
Jonathan Franzen And Oprah Make Up
“Winfrey gave him a warm, hug-filled reception on Monday’s program, though he was the hour’s third guest, following education reformer Michelle Rhee and a family of Michael Jackson confidantes.”
Philadelphia History Museum Selling Thousands of Items From Collection
More than 2,000 items have been “quietly sold by the Philadelphia History Museum over the last several years, all part of an effort to cull its collection of 100,000 artifacts and raise money for a $5.8 million renovation of its 1826 building.”
Indianapolis Symphony Posts Record Red Ink
“The Indiana Symphony Society on Monday reported a near-record deficit of $2.7 million on its $25.8 million budget for the 2010 fiscal year. And symphony CEO Simon Crookall said this won’t be the end of the bleeding.”
Paper Mill Playhouse Head to Lead N.J. State Theater
“Mark W. Jones, the former executive director of the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J., has been appointed president and chief executive of the State Theater in New Brunswick, N.J. … ‘It’s the first job I’ve had in 20 years where I haven’t had to do a financial rescue,’ Mr. Jones said.”
Los Angeles Ballet @ Five Years Old
“Los Angeles Ballet hasn’t merely survived for five seasons; it’s increased the operating budget some 80%, from $900,000 in 2006-07 to $1,624,000 in 2010-11. And there are other signs of growth: increased ticket sales (up 12% last season), a new school and company center in West Los Angeles, a reconstituted board of directors, expanded support staff and audience development activities.”
“Reality” Pays (What The “Reality” TV Stars Make)
Here’s a list of the top earners.
The End Of Privacy?
“Here’s a prediction: Two words that will be incomprehensible a generation from now are “secret” and “private.” They will wither like “ether,” “phlogiston,” “the celestial music of the spheres” and so on, and for the same reason. They will no longer describe anything in our world. For better and/or worse, human beings are outgrowing their privacy and secrecy.”