Movie theaters in the United States and Canada sold an estimated $8.9 billion in tickets in 2025, a 2 percent increase compared with a year earlier. - The New York Times
Despite the reported skepticism of higher education, enrollment in four-year colleges and universities is growing. These institutions awarded 2 million bachelor’s degrees in 2023, compared with 1.6 million in 2010, and the fraction of 25-year-olds with a bachelor’s degree has steadily increased for the past 15 years. - The Atlantic
If boomers and Gen X are puzzled by the fact that many youngsters are not required to endure the same painstaking labor of mastering cursive that they were, they might be even more surprised — perhaps, even delighted — to hear that some are learning the craft entirely for fun. - Washington Post
It's not like the frog boiling in the water. It's a dramatic drop-off. It happened very suddenly. Broadly speaking, in LA, if you're involved in the entertainment industry, this has been a very rough two years. Very, very rough. - The Wall Street Journal
Since Fidesz came to power, governmental actors have gained control of universities, galleries and popular media outlets. The national cultural fund, chaired by the culture and innovation minister, has redirected money from independent unions and periodicals to pro-government journalists and writers. - The Guardian
“Beyond the loss of tangibles (job, income), I think what we’re collectively grieving most is a sense of hope. Los Angeles runs on hope the way Boston runs on Dunkin.” - Vulture
“The restoration of Simone’s childhood home could serve as an example of how privately funded projects can preserve Black history during a time when federally funded programs are under threat.” - The Guardian (UK)
Domed screens, with comfortable seats and bar food, are actually the present for some (sports) fans. But the test run was “when the domed screen transformed into a high-resolution recreation of Michelangelo’s fresco paintings in the Sistine Chapel.” - The New York Times
“Philosophy allows us to understand the world we live in. But I don’t think that it’s therapeutic, that it’s better to read Socrates than take Prozac. If you want to live better, fall in love, take Prozac or do whatever you want, but don’t turn to philosophy.” - El País English
In 1987, the choreographer and ballet teacher “founded Dances Patrelle, for which he created over 50 works, blending dancers from his ensemble with guest performers from prominent companies like the American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet and Dance Theater of Harlem.” - The New York Times
The round-up includes books translated from French, Danish, Bulgarian, and Japanese, but the critic says, “for my money, contemporary Chinese writing is the most interesting literature being produced today.” - Irish Times (Archive Today)
“Resistance was easy. Uncomplicated, too. Like so many who have grown skeptical of AI, I value my life. I don’t want AI-generated music taking a moment of it away from me.” - Washington Post (MSN)
The current political climate isn’t helping. “Women in the film industry now find themselves in uncharted territory. … Hollywood has never needed permission to exclude or diminish women, but the industry now has it.” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)
