“’It was like they almost took an MBA during COVID and worked out different ways of operating,’ (a spokesman said), describing criminals innovating and evolving ‘at a rate that we haven’t seen before,’ possibly spurred by restrictions on real-world travel and more people living their lives online.” - The Washington Post (MSN)
“Musicians relate calling in sick, among other things, when van Zweden conducts their orchestra. Others turn to tranquilizers such as beta-blockers.” Six former orchestra managers said they knew informally of complaints about his behavior but that those concerns rarely reached top decision-makers. - Pointer (Netherlands)
“The Australian Ballet’s box office fell 18% in 2024 on its way to a loss of $9.1 million, which it blamed on being forced to move from its home theatre while it is refurbished.” - Australian Financial Review
“In a letter to Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said they are concerned that the media company ‘may be engaging in improper conduct involving the Trump Administration in exchange for approval of its merger with Skydance Media.’” - The Wall Street Journal (MSN)
“From 1981 to 1988, the bust sat at Morrison’s burial site at the Pére Lachaise cemetery. … French authorities stumbled on the sculpture when they were conducting a search related to a fraud investigation led by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office.” - Artnet
“The Fengyang Drum Tower — built in 1375 and used to announce the beginning of ceremonies and the time of day — is one of the largest such towers in China … (and) a major tourist attraction in Anhui province. … Hundreds of roof tiles began slipping from the roof and crashing to the ground.” - CNN
“I assumed that if I had any sort of ‘real career success’ I'd be the gay best friend on a sitcom. ... Who'd ever think, like, ‘OK, Cole, a play where you're in drag playing Mary Todd Lincoln as a wannabe cabaret star — I think you should pursue this as a big Broadway hit.’” - NPR
Aix is where Cézanne (1839-1906) was born and first put brush to palette. It’s where he painted many of his masterpieces, and it’s where he died. This year, from June to October, the city is honoring that legacy with a series of events. - The New York Times
“No! I definitely struggle. Every time I make something, I think: I can’t do this anymore. It’s too hard. It costs me too much. And then I have these beautiful, transformative, nourishing experiences of working with other artists – and then I feel it’s all worth it, and forget.” - The Standard (London)
Two people familiar with museum operations described the scene as shocking and chaotic on Thursday morning, when employees were summoned into morning meetings with human resources, informed that their jobs had been terminated and given until 2 p.m. to vacate the premises. - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)
“Especially for a festival like ours, it is such a pity — they did this in the past — that you do a production for two times and then it’s over,” he said. “This is an artistic waste and economic waste.” - The New York Times
The mayor issued an executive directive to streamline city processes, lower the costs of filming in the city and make it easier for productions to shoot at well-known city-owned locations like the Griffith Observatory. - The New York Times
“I wasn’t closeted — I just never declared. And yet the reaction to that New York magazine excerpt was wild. Suddenly I’m ‘coming out.’ At my age! Diane, my wife, and I laughed about it. ... If I was in a closet, it was made of glass and full of light.” - The Hollywood Reporter
Lip-syncing a minute of animation could take up to four hours. An animator would listen to an audio track and laboriously adjust character mouths frame by frame. But a one-minute scene took 15 minutes for the A.I. tool to sync, including time spent by an artist to refine a few spots. - The New York Times
So far, the overall impression of the mayor’s social presence is of an ambassador pounding the pavement and taking Muni from West Portal to Market Street, from Mission Bay to Golden Gate Park. - San Francisco Chronicle
