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Janeane Garofalo, True To The Gen-X Ethos, Never Sold Out

A trailblazer for years, "Garofalo didn’t just help shift the comedy scene away from clubs. Her style represented a sea change from the polished, tight and desperately relatable bits ready-made to translate into a sitcom or a late-night appearance." - The New York Times

Breakdancing Is A Freeform Art.  How’s It Getting Organized As An Olympic Sport?

"While breakers around the world ramp up their training, the organization recognized by the IOC to conduct the program, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), faces the unprecedented challenge of bringing a dance form to the Olympic stage." - Dance Magazine

The Alleged Mysterious Manuscript Thief May Manage To Avoid A U.S. Trial

Filippo Bernardini allegedly impersonated numerous authors, agents, and others in order to obtain unpublished manuscripts — for reasons nobody yet understands. Now his first court date has been postponed while a deferred prosecution request is considered. - The Guardian

Thieves Returned A Precious Medieval Chest Said To Contain Relics Of Christ To “The Indiana Jones Of The Art World”

The ornate gold-and-lapis lazuli vessel, which houses vials said to contain blood that flowed from Jesus's body as he was crucified, was stolen on June 1 from Fécamp Abbey in Normandy.  When the thief realized it couldn't be sold, he had it returned to famed Dutch art detective Arthur Brand. - BBC

In Ukraine, The Phrase “Culture War” Is Not Metaphorical

"With Russia actively trying to erase Ukraine's national identity, this country's music, literature, movies and monuments are not recreations. They are battlefields. The true culture war of our age is the war for democracy, and Ukrainian culture, past and present, has become a vital line of defense." - The New York Times

Angel Blue Withdraws From Verona Opera Festival Because Anna Netrebko Is Singing Aïda In Blackface There

The American soprano was going to make her Arena di Verona debut as Violetta in La Traviata — until a furor arose over Netrebko's photos of herself in dark makeup and her Aïda costume and Arena di Verona management defended the makeup as part of a historical staging. - Classic FM (UK)

Actor’s Equity Blacklists Broadway Producer Garth Drabinsky

"The actors and stage managers of (Paradise Square) asked for Drabinsky to be put on the 'Do Not Work' list due to 'outstanding payments and benefits, and a continued pattern of abuse and neglect that created an unsafe and toxic work environment.'" - The Hollywood Reporter

Apparently, There’s A Rampant Violin Playing Scam In The United States

Scammers ruin everything, including violin skills: "At its most basic, it’s someone who is busking with a violin, apparently playing, while they’re actually faking it — the music comes from a hidden recording." - Ludwig Van

Hollywood And Abortion Activism

Meetings, walkouts, subtle out of office notes - and representation: "Many in Hollywood have begun to think about how they portray characters receiving abortion and reproductive care. And some in the industry have been turning to their guilds for guidance." - The Hollywood Reporter

X-Rays Reveal A Hidden Van Gogh Self-Portrait

"Experts at the National Galleries of Scotland made the find when the canvas was X-rayed before an exhibition. The hidden self-portrait was covered by layers of glue and cardboard on the back of an earlier work called Head of a Peasant Woman." - BBC

Meryl Streep’s One Weird Trick

You can never unsee this, so only click if you dare. - The New York Times

Real Objectivity Involves A Heck Of A Lot Of Subjectivity

That is, "being objective" means having the ability to identify with someone else's subjective experience. - Aeon

A New Law In The UK Would Harshly Target Those Who Physically Deface Monuments

The new law comes within a suite of rules intended to give the police more power over protesters. "Anyone caught damaging a memorial in the U.K. could now face harsh penalties of up to 10 years in prison." A specialist in art law says it's a "political judgement." - Artnet

Arizona Just Got The Biggest Chunk Of Arts Funding It’s Ever Had

From 2008 to 2012, the Arizona Commission on the Arts had a regular line, about $550,000, in the state budget; since then, the agency had only one-time appropriations that vary widely year-to-year. In 2020 the legislature gave the Commission $2 million; for the upcoming year, $5 million. - The Arizona Republic

YouTube Live Has Been Rather Quietly Growing Until It’s Bigger Than Hulu

"Google nearly decided to call the internet TV service 'YouTube Air,' because an early version used an over-the-air TV antenna," and then internally it was YouTube "Unplugged." The service has a million more subscribers than its fellow "Live" at Hulu. - Variety

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