There’s a new musical genre developing: Geekhouse. Check it out:
And this makes me happy too. The musicalization and valuation of the erudite and enthralling Carl Sagan.
Cheers!
(courtesy of Symphony oF Science)
October 9, 2009
I Paid My Taxes, I Want My Culture
Art Strikes Back
I have to admit that I sometimes look at the arts and wonder why they continue to go to government, cap in hand, asking for funding. I mean if the arts were reasonable and viable, then we would all appreciate them to the level they would be economically sustainable.
Seething anger is (nearly) my only response to comments like this after 20+ years in the arts and culture industry. Let’s see if I can get this out there in plain language w/o insult:
The Arts & Cultural industry has as much right to seek public subsidy, incentive, and favorable tax and business laws as any other industry.
The Arts & Cultural industry employs as many, and in many cases more individuals than many old-line manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
The Arts & Cultural industry exists on a tiny fraction of the public subsidy, incentive, and favorable tax and business law as many of the other sectors do.
The Arts & Cultural industry has replaced government programs in health, education, and public welfare at a fraction of prior cost.
The Arts & Cultural industry is supported overwhelmingly by ticket sales and private contributions, both measures of public valuation of their services.
The Arts & Cultural industry provides a positive net return on investment for public subsidy, much like and in some cases greater than the ROI for other industries receiving such subsidy.
The next time someone asks why the Arts & Cultural industry should receive public subsidy or why it can’t be self-supporting, try to remember these points.
Then remind your questioner that you pay taxes too and you don’t give a damn about (sector X) which gets public subsidy, tax breaks, protection, incentives, favorable legislation, etc.
Then tell ‘em:
I Paid My Taxes, I Want My Culture
October 5, 2009
Zombie Survival Studies
New research from Italy entitled “Target annihilation by diffusing particles in inhomogeneous geometries” suggests that when hiding from ‘random walkers’ like zombies, it may be best to hide in sophisticated, irregular spaces.
In other words, hide somewhere where there’s lots of places to hide! You know, like hiding in the warehouse full to props is probably a better idea than hiding in an empty gymnasium.
Of course, that begs the question of how to classify a geomotery like the Pacific Northwest. I would suggest that this would be a more ‘inhomogeneous geometry” than, say Nunavut or Iowa.
But here’s a fun take on it, if you like: ZOMBIE LINK
