Good Morning,
Researchers who spent years eavesdropping on thousands of people found we’re speaking about 338 fewer words a day, every year — roughly a Sense and Sensibility-worth of talk gone annually, steepest among the under-25s (The New Yorker). Put that next to a Mississippi teacher’s smart, capable students who simply won’t read (Wired) and Meta’s new app that generates children’s bedtime stories (TechCrunch), and the pattern isn’t declining ability. We’re automating away the moments where language happens.
Chicago reported that cultural events pumped $395 million into the Loop last quarter, up 20 percent (Chicago Sun-Times). But the Art Institute laid off its entire custodial staff to outsource the work (Chicago Sun-Times).
The Glasgow School of Art has concluded that rebuilding Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s fire-gutted masterpiece building would cost $355 million it doesn’t have (The New York Times). That probably won’t happen.
The Louvre, at least, has reopened the gallery where thieves took the crown jewels last fall. It’s empty — but the room is interesting (AFP (MSN)).
All of our stories below.
