Grown-up punk rockers

Want to be young and bad-ass forever? Take a cue from this invest banker, barrister, and vicar.

Intriguing Musicians

Here's a critic's list of 40 musicians to listen to in the near future: "they play by their own rules, and they grab your attention." I'm only familiar with three of them, so I've got some listening to do. Let me know if you try any of these out.

This is what happens when you let math nerds around the literature

Weird.

1: there is a thing called the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
2: they took time to run statistical analyses of great works of literature
3: they found fractals. And in the case of a number of stream-of-consciousness novels (and the Bible), they found really complex fractals-within-fractals structures.

So, um, that happened.

"Red line of mortality"

According to this bank chart, you should go ahead and look forward to your 20s. Or be older than 35 and cry. Those seem to pretty much be your options.

"Paris must become a little less charming"

Ian McEwan, author of Atonement, is currently living in Paris. He sent this note the day after the recent attacks.

Reading poetry

A 20-step guide.

Pride and Prejudice and Erotica

This week in English class we've been talking about Gilbert & Gubar and feminist readings of 19th century English novels. And the same week I come across, for the first time, "Jane Austen Erotica." (Totally SFW.)

Dang.

Poetry and passwords

Thanks to this story, I can now kinda understand computers and kinda understand poetry at the same time!

That skinny Hamlet

I start Hamlet with my seniors tomorrow morning. And as I read the play again, I know one question I'll have at the back of my mind: is Hamlet fat?

Feedback

While this Harvard Business Review post has nothing to do with art, I figure all my readers (like, all four of you) have to deal with giving and/or receiving negative feedback. So why not pass it on?

If classical music puts you to sleep..

If classical music puts you to sleep, then you might be excited about Max Richter's new piece. "Sleep" is an eight-hour piece (apparently the longest classical composition ever) that's meant to be played while people sleep. The premiere will happen at an overnight performance where the audience will listen in beds, presumably asleep.

(By coincidence, I put on a Richter album last night to help me fall asleep. I can vouch for this guy's talent.)

Really old advice

I know it's June and the time for graduation speeches is over. But consider--no matter when you graduated and at what level--this open letter of advice to the class of 2015. It's advice so old it seems really fresh and interesting.

Why is the timpani player smelling his drum?

Here's a quick rundown of some funny questions you might like to read before going to a classical music concert.

If you do go to one, let me know! I love to talk about concerts, but rarely get the opportunity.

On clothes, mindsets, and power

Stanley Marcus (the Marcus in Neiman Marcus department stores) once said that "a casual wardrobe produces a casual attitude." Science is proving him right. It turns out that wearing formal clothes "makes people think more broadly and holistically." Wearing a suit or other business wear will likely make you think more like a powerful person and act more like a powerful person.

While I believe this broad thinking and confidence is largely a good thing ("dress better than you have to" is one of the axioms I live by), there can be negative consequences: thinking of yourself as powerful and in a higher social class might make you less ethical.

Pop culture crossover: Mad Men!

Eight Tips on Creativity

I don't know who Michael Smith is, and I try to avoid passing on too much advice. But I like this quirky list from a professional.

Because even AP Art History takes a break for Prom

Here's an infographic with everything you need to know about tuxedos, from the master of them: James Bond.

The Book That Can't Wait

Most writers want their work to last, but a new book printed in Argentina is guaranteed not to last, because it's printed on disappearing ink.

This post has nothing to do with art

But if you are reading this (is anyone still reading this?), you are probably heading off to school in the next week or so. Need/want/willing to listen to advice? These tips are good. Best of luck at your new home.