“A newly reconstructed deformed fossil skull suggests our human ancestors probably cared for deformed offspring for years. “The skull indicates that the child who lived about 530,000 years ago would have been severely handicapped — and yet survived at least five years and possibly several years longer. That suggests the parents or community provided the [...]
Archive for March, 2009
The Kindness of Cavemen: Ancient Skull Suggests Human Ancestors Had Compassion
Posted in Ancient History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Human Behavior, Science & Technology on March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Amherst, Massachusetts “250th Anniversary” Literary Festival Set to Open April 1st
Posted in American History, Books, Literature, Museums & Exhibitions, New England, Plays & Playwrights, Poets & Poetry, U.S. Travel, Writers & Writing on March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
As part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Amherst, Massachusetts, home to the Emily Dickinson Museum, Amherst College, Hampshire College and the University of Masachusetts, a number of literary events are scheduled for the month of April. Events include a ”Children’s Literary Scavenger Hunt,” an “Emerging Young Writers Event,” and “A Reading by Poet, Essayist, [...]
“New” Walker Percy Short Story to be Published in “The Hopkins Review”
Posted in Books, Literature, Writers & Writing on March 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A previously unknown short story by Walker Percy, whose first novel, The Moviegoer, won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1962, will be published in the April, 2009 issue of The Hopkins Review, a literary quarterly produced by Johns Hopkins University Press. “‘A Detective Story’ is a breezy tale of William Pinckney, a Mississippi businessman [...]
Hola Havana: Washington Mulls Lifting Travel Ban to Cuba
Posted in Congress, Economy, Foreign Travel, International Affairs, Obama, Politics, The Americas on March 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“Roughly a year after Fidel Castro stepped aside and handed much of the responsibility for leading Cuba to his brother Raúl, there is new momentum in Washington for eliminating the ban on most U.S. travel to the island nation and for reexamining the severe limitations on U.S.-Cuban economic exchanges. “At a Capitol Hill news conference [...]
R.I.P. – Helen Levitt (1913-2009)
Posted in Art & Artists, Brooklyn, New York City, Obituaries, Photography on March 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“Helen Levitt, a major photographer of the 20th century who caught fleeting moments of surpassing lyricism, mystery and quiet drama on the streets of her native New York, died in her sleep at her home in Manhattan on Sunday. She was 95. . . . “Ms. Levitt captured instances of a cinematic and delightfully guileless [...]
Spanish Disquisition: Spanish Court Weighs Inquiry on Torture for Bush Officials
Posted in American History, Bush, Cheney, Crimes & Misdemeanors, Current Events, Europe, International Affairs, Politics on March 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“A Spanish court has taken the first steps toward opening a criminal investigation into allegations that six former high-level Bush administration officials violated international law by providing the legal framework to justify the torture of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, an official close to the case said. “The case, against former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and others, was [...]
49th Annual “New York Antiquarian Book Fair” Set to Open Friday (4/3)
Posted in Books, Business, Collectors & Collecting, Ephemera, Literature, Museums & Exhibitions, New York City, Plays & Playwrights, Poets & Poetry, U.S. Travel, Writers & Writing on March 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Arguably the most important annual book fair in the United States will be held this coming weekend, April 3-5, at the Park Avenue Armory (643 Park Avenue, at 67th Street) in New York City. General information (hours, entrance fees, etc) about the 49th annual event, organized by Sanford L. Smith and Associates and sponsored by the [...]
Less is the New More: Finding Happiness & Prosperity in a Post-Consumption Economy
Posted in Congress, Economy, Obama, Politics on March 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Cornell University economist Robert H. Frank on “Finding new opportunities amid the economic wreckage”: “The economic bonfire fueled mostly by consumption in recent years has ended. As we have watched the familiar statistics plummet, with credit cards maxed out and home-equity loans a thing of the past, the reality has slowly become clear: We won’t return to [...]
Powell’s Books & The Future of Portland, Oregon
Posted in American West, Books, Business, Current Events, Economy, U.S. Travel, Urban Affairs on March 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“Over the last four decades, Powell’s Books has swelled into the largest bookstore in North America — a capacious monument to reading that occupies a full square block of this often-drizzly city [Portland, Oregon]. But this year, growth has given way to anxiety. “Michael Powell, the store’s owner, recently dropped plans for a $5 million [...]
2009 “Oddest Book Title of the Year” Award Winner Announced
Posted in Books, Business, Food & Wine on March 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-miligram Containers of Fromage Frais, published by Icon Group International, has been crowned the winner of the Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year. The Bookseller received just over 5,000 votes on its online poll, with the study into the future of the diary product packaging securing a 32% share [...]
On Broadway: Sotheby’s to Auction Rare 1840s New York City Daguerreotype
Posted in American History, Antiques & Folk Art, Business, Collectors & Collecting, New York City, Photography on March 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“In the early to mid-19th century . . . the Upper West Side of Manhattan was open countryside, with large estates, white picket fences and wagons trundling along a rutted road already known as Broadway. “Photographic evidence of that era is scant, as most studios offering the newfangled daguerreotypes were located several miles away at [...]
R.I.P. – John Hope Franklin (1915-2009)
Posted in American History, Books, Obituaries, Politics, Race on March 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“John Hope Franklin, a prolific scholar of African-American history who profoundly influenced thinking about slavery and Reconstruction while helping to further the civil rights struggle, died Wednesday in Durham, N.C. He was 94. . . . “During a career of scholarship, teaching and advocacy that spanned more than 70 years, Dr. Franklin was deeply involved [...]
Brevity Is the Soul of Poetry: Ben Okri Releases New Poem on Twitter
Posted in Books, Language, Literature, Media & Advertising, Poets & Poetry, World Wide Web, Writers & Writing on March 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“Short, lucid writing is needed in these uncertain times, according to the Booker prize-winning Nigerian author Ben Okri, who is releasing a new poem line by line on Twitter. . . . “‘I sing a new freedom,’ Okri Twittered yesterday, following it up today with the second line of the poem, ‘Freedom with discipline’, today. The poem was [...]
R.I.P. – Johnny Blanchard (1933-2009)
Posted in Baseball, New York City, Obituaries, Popular Culture, Sports on March 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“Johnny Blanchard, a power-hitting catcher and outfielder known as Super Sub who played in five consecutive World Series for the Yankees in the 1960s, died Wednesday in Robbinsdale, Minn. He was 76. . . . “As a left-handed hitter who could deliver the long ball, Blanchard seemed a perfect fit for Yankee Stadium and its short right-field [...]
Being Ernest Hemingway: Anthony Hopkins to Play Hemingway in New Film
Posted in Books, Cinema, Literature, Popular Culture, Writers & Writing on March 26, 2009 | 1 Comment »
“Anthony Hopkins will play Ernest Hemingway in an indie titled Hemingway & Fuentes, to be produced and directed by Andy Garcia. . . . “Garcia, who also co-wrote the script with Hemingway’s niece, author Hilary Hemingway, will costar in the film as well, playing the real life fishing-boat captain Gregorio Fuentes, who befriended Papa Hemingway in the [...]
Artful Mailers: Transforming “Found” Postcards into Objets D’Art
Posted in Art & Artists, Collectors & Collecting, Ephemera, Foreign Travel, New York City, U.S. Travel on March 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“This month, a 33-year-old Belgian artist has started a project called I Got a Postcard, where people leave self-addressed stamped postcards that encourage the people who find them to personalize and mail them. “Two weeks ago, he left his first 100 cards in 10 locations in New York City — including a library, airport, theater and bus — [...]
Frugal Travel: Saving Money on International Calls
Posted in Foreign Travel, Frugal Travel, Science & Technology, World Wide Web on March 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Timely advice from Matt Gross, the New York Times’ ”Frugal Traveler,” for “Staying in Touch Internationally, on the Cheap” using SkypeIn and SkypeOut with iPhones or unlocked cell phones. Related: As Airfares Fall, Save Even After Buying Update: Frugal Traveler: Skype Midterm Report
Big City Blues (& Yellows): NYC Hikes Subway, Bus Fares (Taxis OK)
Posted in Brooklyn, Business, Economy, New York City, U.S. Travel, Urban Affairs on March 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
On the same day the New York Times reported that the city’s yellow cab industry is being spared from the worst effects of the recession by allowing riders to pay by credit card, the MTA announced major fare hikes for public transportation commuters: “After a fiery hearing Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted 12 to 1 to approve subway, [...]
R.I.P. – George Kell (1922-2009)
Posted in Baseball, Obituaries, Popular Culture, Sports on March 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“George Kell, the Hall of Fame third baseman who won the American League batting title in 1949 with the Detroit Tigers and was a longtime broadcaster for the team, died Tuesday at his home in Swifton, Ark. He was 86. . . . “Kell played in the A.L. for 15 seasons, was an All-Star 10 times and [...]
Sana Krasikov Wins 2009 “Sami Rohr Prize” for Jewish Literature
Posted in Books, Jewish Life, Literature, Writers & Writing on March 25, 2009 | 1 Comment »
“Sana Krasikov is the 2009 recipient of the $100,000 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature for emerging writers of Jewish literature. Krasikov wins the Prize for her debut short story collection, One More Year (Spiegel & Grau) . . . “The Sami Rohr Prize is the largest monetary prize of its kind in the Jewish literary world, [...]
