2 New Theaters Make Dallas a Hotspot

Koolhaas reflects on 'end to a period' of megabuildings

(NEWSER) - When the tower next to Rem Koolhaas’ mammoth CCTV skyscraper in Beijing went up in flames, it seemed to mark the end of an era. After years of pricey signature projects, architects are seeing commissions cut, and projects are languishing. “I don't even know about the word ‘downturn,’” Koolhaas tells the Wall Street Journal. “It seems simply the end to a period.” More»

China developing reputation as architectural showcase

(NEWSER) - The new Terminal 3 at Beijing airport—the largest building in the world—is not only the gateway for visitors streaming into the Chinese capital for this summer's Olympics. It's also the capstone for an unprecedented building program that has transformed Beijing into a world-scale architectural showcase. The New York Times looks at how China is translating its rapid growth and political ambition into such projects—and hoping the world notices. More»

Robbery suspect held cops at bay for 14 hours

(NEWSER) - A man who claimed to be armed spent 14 hours holed up in the cab of a 150-foot-high construction crane in Dallas before falling to his death. The man, believed to be a robbery suspect fleeing police, had climbed into the cab on the campus of Southern Methodist University, and, using the cab's radio, threatened to shoot anybody who came near, CBS reports. More»

Want a job? Avoid fine art, according to 'Daily Beast' list

(NEWSER) - Hey, college students: If your life plans include getting an actual job, you may want to avoid the stars of the Daily Beast 's "most useless" majors list. Majors are ranked in terms of employment, taking into account unemployment rates among recent and experienced grads, earnings, and likely job growth this decade. The list contains a few surprises—sure, fine arts won't get you far, but neither will hospitality management:

1. Fine arts (12.6% unemployment among recent grads; recent grads earn an average $30,000)
2. Drama and theater arts (7.8%, $26,000)

It's 'amazing' no one was killed amid massive destruction, he says

(NEWSER) - Eighteen-wheelers were sent spinning though the air , hundreds of homes were smashed and cars crunched when as many as 13 tornadoes hit the Dallas region —but "miraculously" not a single person lost their lives, said a stunned mayor. "It looks like the Dallas-Fort Worth area really dodged a bullet," Mayor Michael Rawlings told CNN . "We've got hundreds and hundreds of homes destroyed, but amazingly no fatalities. We're looking at a miracle here. We're looking at something amazing." Added Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm: "Thank God for the protection he provided." More»