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David Bowie: his life, his music, his films, his art, and some touching tributes

Tributes from David Bowie’s friends added continuously in this live NYTimes feed.

A series of unaired 60 Minutes interviews with David Bowie.

His fashion.

His movies.

A playlist of his lesser-known songs.

His music videos. 

Lorde’s tribute in Rolling Stone.

UN calls for the evacuation of 400 in need of urgent care in Syria

UN humanitarian head Stephen O’Brien has called for the immediate evacuation of about 400 people at risk of succumbing to starvation in Madaya, Syria. Speaking after a UN Security Security Council meeting in New York, O’Brien said many need “life-saving” medical help and “are in grave peril of losing their lives.” The remarks come a day after a UN-supported aid convoy arrived in the besieged community, which hadn’t received food support since October. World Health Organization representative Elizabeth Hoff is in Madaya with a UN convoy. Hoff reported the startling number of people in need of urgent care. “I am really alarmed,” Hoff told Reuters. “I sent an immediate request to authorities for more supplies to be brought in. We are asking for mobile clinics and medical teams to be dispatched.” About 50 aid vehicles entered the city of 42,000 Monday, a surge of support that is expected to last a few days. [Source: National Post]

Suicide bomb in Istanbul kills 10, Islamic State believed responsible

A suicide bomber believed to be of Syrian descent is behind an explosion near Istanbul tourist attractions the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque that killed 10 and wounded 15 on Tuesday morning. “I condemn the terror incident in Istanbul, assessed to be an attack by a suicide bomber with Syrian origin,” Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a televised speech. “Unfortunately we have 10 dead, including foreigners and Turkish nationals … There are also 15 wounded.” Islamic State is believed to be responsible for the attack, but the terror group has yet to issue a statement. [Source: Guardian]

Glasglow artist receives $31,000 grant to stay home, take year off work

Ellie Harrison lives in Glasgow. She is an artist. And she has received a $31,000 grant to stay home, take a year off work, cut her carbon footprint, and foster a sense of belonging. From the project’s Facebook page: “The Glasgow Effect is is year long ‘action research’ project / durational performance, for which artist Ellie Harrison will not travel outside Greater Glasgow for a whole year (except in the event of the ill-health / death of close relative or friend). By setting this one simple restriction to her current lifestyle, she intends to test the limits of a ‘sustainable practice’ and to challenge the demand-to-travel placed upon the ‘successful’ artist / academic. The experiment will enable her to cut her carbon footprint and increase her sense of belonging, by encouraging her to seek out and create ‘local opportunities’ – testing what becomes possible when she invests all her ideas, time and energy within the city where she lives. The Glasgow Effect is funded by Creative Scotland through the Open Project Funding Programme and supported by Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. Follow all the action at: http://glasgoweffect.tumblr.com/.” As you can imagine, her Facebook wall is full of the brightest and best humans commenting on what a waste of money such a project is. There is some support, too. [Source: Postmedia]

Winnipeg filmmaker Jeff Newman’s ‘Colder Than Mars’ video depicting an average winter day in an above-average city

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