While not on any sanctions list, the Ukrainian-born billionaire’s links to sanctioned Russian oligarchs were the focus of discussion among officials involved in a multimillion pound donation by him that helped ensure a trove of literary treasures were saved for the nation. - The Guardian
As a local musician who has put out vinyl (in very limited quantities), I’ve come to realize there are ethics when it comes to buying physical music—it’s best to ensure your favorite musicians are seeing as high a cut from your purchase as possible. - Wired
Why do some people revel in collections of novelty eggcups? Or have so many framed pictures you can barely see the (ferociously busy) wallpaper? And why do those at the other end of the spectrum refuse to have even the essential stuff visible in the home? - The Conversation
The recent appointments of the women and the recent commissions of choreography by women too numerous to mention, are good news for feminism. But only relatively speaking. - Alastair Macaulay
Why do people have such a problem with “like”? Is it because it simply won’t go away? In 1992, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a robust defence of the word and the way it carries “a rich emotional nuance”, responding to what had already been a decade of criticism. - The Guardian
HB 20 says that if you run a social network — even a nonprofit one — you’ll have to throw out your community standards if enough people like the space you’ve built on them. And that’s just the start of the issues. - The Verge
It's no coincidence that Punchdrunk has begun collaborating with Pokemon Go creator Niantic. The company's work offers the same promise as virtual reality: At its best, it can fool you into believing you've been transported to another world. - CNET
Douglas Chrismas was considered to be at the forefront of the Los Angeles art scene in the 1980s and 90s at his now-defunct Ace Gallery. But financial troubles overtook his reputation and Chrismas was repeatedly sued by his artists for non-payment and theft of artwork. - The Art Newspaper
He has directed twenty-seven features in twenty-six years. Hong has achieved abundance through a radical reduction of means. He funds each movie with the proceeds of his previous films, and he makes his films as he goes. - The New Yorker
In what looks like a reaction - some might call it an over-reaction - to the employee walkouts over Dave Chapelle's transphobic jokes, the streamer changed its "corporate culture" memo, saying employees "may have to work on content that they 'perceive as harmful.'" - NPR
Marcuse ran several bookstores, but Common Concerns, in Dupont Circle during the Reagan and (H.W.) Bush years, was the most important for a community looking for a home. His (Ed) "Meese is a Pig" T-shirts and posters were top-sellers. - Washington Post
Why an entire bookstore and café devoted to scary things? "Imagine your problems were a ghost, a monster, a serial killer — that the thing stealing your power could be punched or séanced or set on fire. That you could kill it, that you could triumph. Horror is cathartic." - Toronto Star
Twin Cities spoken word artist and musician "SUNAH hopes to replace negative language some in the Hmong community use to describe LGBTQ people. There is no known word for queer or gay in the Hmong language." - Sahan Journal
After the sale of the Chicago Reader "was nearly derailed over a co-owner’s column opposing COVID-19 vaccine requirements for children," and after a lot of protests and work, the sale to a nonprofit is expected to work. - Seattle Times (AP)
