“We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes,” said the 4-3 decision by the New York Court of Appeals. “The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial.” - AP
In an era dominated by poststructuralist and politically influenced literary criticism, Ms. Vendler, who taught at Harvard for more than 30 years, adhered to the old-fashioned method of close reading, going methodically line by line, word by word, to expose a poem’s inner workings and emotional roots. - The New York Times
"Attorneys Greg Andrade and Edna de Castro were representing Alejandro Triana Prevez, the Cuban man who has testified that he stabbed Sikkema to death (in Rio de Janeiro) as part of a murder-for-hire scheme allegedly orchestrated by Sikkema’s ex-husband, Daniel Carrera." They have resigned "for reasons of personal conscience." - Artnet
"(Eike Schmidt) said he felt compelled to throw his hat into the ring ... after being encouraged to run for mayor by Florentines, who he said stopped him in the street to vent their frustrations over issues such as rising crime, a shortage of affordable housing, graffiti, ... overtourism — and fast-food stands." - The Guardian
"He fulfilled his dreams, save for being Spider-Man. He wanted to write and direct plays and movies. He wanted to do stand-up comedy. He wanted to be Roger Ebert. He just did it in one place." - Poynter
The documentary filmmaker " ocused her work on writing, directing and producing film and videos that centered the emotions and circumstances of Latin American, Mexican and Chicano experiences,” including Las Madres: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. - Variety
Davis was both chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the musical conductor of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera in the 1990s. In 1997, just after Princess Diana was killed in a car crash, his final Proms speech helped the audience process their grief. - The Telegraph (UK) (MSN)
And New Yorkers love an actor who is moving to Broadway from Hollywood; though Molina has been nominated for three Tony Awards, it’s been 15 years since he was on a New York stage. But let him explain why he loves the city, including the secret to “the best breakfast in New York." - The New York Times
The famous Holbein portrait of the king's fourth wife portrays her as nice-looking enough. Yet Henry declared her a "Flanders Mare" and annulled the marriage, and letters from ambassadors at the court were not flattering. It's possible, one scholar argues, that the problem was not her face but her clothes. - History Today
Ralph Ellison. Charles Laughton (as filmmaker). Willis Alan Ramsey, the granddaddy of alt-country. Miguel Adrover, a former fashion designer who made a coat from Quentin Crisp's old mattress. And, of course, Harper Lee. - T — The New York Times Style Magazine
"The actor had accused the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun of phone hacking, unlawful information-gathering, landline tapping, bugging his phone and burgling his flat and office. His case was due to go to trial at London’s high court in January 2025." - The Guardian
With her platinum hair, raspy voice and glamorous ’50s-style dresses, Ms. Astor was a formidable presence among the music, film and art makers who gathered at the Mudd Club in TriBeCa. - The New York Times
"'It was kind of hanging out of my face, sitting on my cheek, I've said like a soft-boiled egg. And blind.' Sir Salman said losing one eye 'upsets me every day'. ... But he considers himself lucky to have avoided brain damage." - BBC
Ozawa refused to live in Boston, raising his family in Tokyo and commuting when required. His English was never more than functional. Most musicians grasped what he wanted; any who protested did not last long. - The Critic
“For more than a half-century, Ms. Ringgold explored themes of race, gender, class, family and community through a vast array of media, among them painting, sculpture, mask- and doll-making, textiles and performance art.” - The New York Times
