Stories

When Collecting Becomes Nearly A Blood Sport

Well, a bot sport, anyway. Bots are doing so much online work that regular collectors just can’t keep up - and are getting excluded from the things they love as a result. - The Verge

The Mighty Sparrpw, One Of The Last Great Calypso Singers, Has Died At 91

“A singer, songwriter and guitarist, Sparrow — his given name was Slinger Francisco — was renowned for his sonorous voice, unremitting energy and extraordinary command of the verbal prestidigitation and sly double-entendre that are among the hallmarks of calypso lyrics.” - The New York Times

Survivor’s Host And Producer May Work At Paramount, But He’s Not Abandoning Diversity

Jeff Probst doesn’t care about the Trump-loving network owners. Instead, he says, he cares about story. “Our stories are so much more interesting now because we have people from completely different walks of life.” - Variety

Dolly Parton’s Estate Is In Shambles Over Accusations, Lawsuits, And Restraining Orders

“While the family appeared to be putting on a united front, behind the scenes, things were far from harmonious. Employees were afraid to come to work and some were allegedly quitting.” Then there was the security guy’s threats. - Vulture

Meta’s New Surveillance Mascot Looks Like A Toy

It’s supposed to be for adults only, but it looks like a Tamagotchi. Will the cuddliness cause us all to forget the deep, deep creep factor? - Wired

Rose Tremain Knows Her Generation Of Novelists Is Dying, But She’ll Keep Going As Long As She Can

“Contrary to what publishers hope and expect, serious writers don’t think obsessively about readers, or even about sales, royalties and prizes. What we talk to each other about, what we dream of, what we can’t live without is the work itself.” - The Guardian (UK)

Ashland, Oregon, Is Known For Its Shakespeare Fest, But Now It’s Got A Murder Fest As Well

OK, you could argue that Shakespeare is a murderfest of his own, but “Mystery Fest has given cozy mystery fans a new reason to discover Ashland, attracting readers who might not otherwise have put the city on their travel list.” - Oregon ArtsWatch

Beckett Is Only Bleak If You Have No Sense Of Humor

“I think Irish actors and directors have an innate advantage in dealing with Beckett. They get his humour.” - Irish Times

The Strike Is Over In Cleveland

“In a deal reached late Saturday night and ratified Sunday by the union, the two sides agreed to a three-year contract that includes a 5 percent annual raise for each of the three years, according to the orchestra.” - The New York Times

The All-Night Song And Dance Parties Of Veracruz

“This syncopated, jubilant folk music is a melange of European, Caribbean and Indigenous influences. While fandangos — where folks gather to play their instruments, sing and dance — are more than 300 years old, their popularity is now spreading around the world.” - NPR

In Leipzig, Ousted Boston Symphony Orchestra Director Andris Nelsons Feels The Love

“When he conducts, he does not think in English or German or Latvian, even if that would be his own. But he thinks directly in music, and this is so direct. … Sometimes in a concert you have suddenly a new gesture never seen before, that everybody understands.” - Boston Globe

Major Social Media Platforms Are All Turning Down Paid Advertising For The Documentary About Elon Musk

No one will be surprised that X (formerly Twitter) won’t take the ads for Alex Gibney’s award-winning movie, but what’s up with TikTok, YouTube, and Meta? - The Hollywood Reporter

Sylvester Stallone Finally Reckons With Decades Of Trauma

“When I look at that footage, I look distorted. I was gone for a few seconds. Sometimes in acting or painting or writing, you just subliminally lose yourself. You do not know where you are. ... What was that?” - The New York Times

Action Films Use To End Just As Happily As Any Rom-Com

Basically, “the heroes are still winning, but it’s costing them a whole lot more.” But why? - The New York Times

An Art Crawl, By Bike, In Melbourne

“Even as a Melbourne local and a longtime art lover I find it near impossible to keep up with the independent openings happening in my city.” - The Guardian (UK)

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