The Fredösphere

Survival depends on adaptability.  So many groups are struggling to navigate the bewildering maze which is life in the modern world.  Pirates, for example, struggle awkwardly to gain power within Sweden's democratic process.  (As it happens, the article is about copyright reform, so it's not only funny, it's -- purely by accident, I assure you -- relevant.)

Christopher Tolkien continues to mine his father's writings.  Insert your favorite orc treasure or Mines of Moria metaphor here.

This story got my hopes up, way up, but it turns out it's a blurb for a conventional concert, which is good, because a church needs a talking horse like a bicycle can tune a fish.  Or something.

Via ArtsJournal:  Welcome to Hollywood; here's your ghetto, and welcome to Hell, here's your accordion.

Sorry, all those 19th century woman musicians look alike to me.  (It's the Guardian classical music quiz.  Oooh, it's tough.)