Topic: Arts & Literature

Chicago produced "Batman" fan-film released online.

With the theatrical release of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight breaking records at the box-office, an intrepid group of Chicago filmmakers took to the streets in June to shoot a Batman "fanfilm" that bridges events between 2005's Batman Begins and the newly released Warner Brothers blockbuster.

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When a middle-aged man decides to take a vacation to the desert, he just plans to get away from it all for a while. Little does he know he will come to terms with his spirituality. An age-less Indian named Tom has wisdom to impart the teaching he needs.

Jerry wishes he could leave all his troubles behind and make sense of it. Determined just to relax after a failed relationship, he heads west little expecting the spiritual adventure he will embark upon in Dr. Jerry Burgener's new novel Desert Journey.

In this tongue and cheek look at the Harry Potter phenomenon the question is asked: why find evil and darkness lurking in what is, essentially, children's literature?

While the Harry Potter juggernaut bulldozes merrily along, just about everybody has stepped into the cauldron of hot, churning action. And that includes drug dealers no less! Heck, they know a good thing when they see it!

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A Rockefeller University scientist and a colleague from Argentina believe they have found astronomical references in Homer’s "Odyssey" that provide corroborating evidence Odysseus returns home to experience a total solar eclipse.

Among countless other debates about Homer's Odyssey - not the least of which is whether the entire poem can be attributed to Homer himself - is whether Odysseus returns home to experience a total solar eclipse. But a Rockefeller University scientist and a colleague from Argentina believe they have found astronomical references in the Odyssey that provide corroborating evidence of this celestial event. The finding is reported in this week's online early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It's often been noted that sometimes we miss out on the incredible beauty of the journey by focusing on reaching our destination. Kaya McLaren illustrates this point beautifully.

I love to paint, to feel the creamy goo under my brush. I spread it out like butter across canvas. I turn the music up loud and almost dance with my brush. I paint about simple things that make me happy, or simple things I find beautiful. Georgia O’Keefe is my hero for that reason - for taking the simple beauty of a flower and using paint to make it obvious to even the busiest and most distracted person, for using paint to help everyone see the beautiful colors of dirt. I love how paint allows the painter to editorialize her perception.

"Hafiz: The Voice of God" is a unique modern translation of the poetry of Hafiz and its deep roots in Persian culture.

Hafiz: The Voice of God--A Hundred Odes is Khalid Hameed Shaida's intricate and introspective translation of the 14th century poet's romance and mysticism, preserving the rhyme, rhythm, and flow of the original language and culture.

Amber Kingston's first book is nominated for Benjamin Franklin Children's Award while the author is abroad visiting German school children.

First-time author Amber T. Kingston not only received a glowing review from a Disney Imagineer, her book Laura and the Leprechauns was recently nominated for the Benjamin Franklin Award in the following category: Interior Design, Children¹s/Young Adult. The 2008 Benjamin Franklin Award winner will be chosen from one of the three finalists and will receive the Benjamin Franklin Award during a ceremony on Thursday evening, May 29, 2008 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel, located at 930 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California.

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Strong Celtic women and video game influenced fantasy are a winning combination.

Oregon fantasy author and video game advocate Jayel Gibson is joining the entertainment trend that promotes a new era of fantasy from an uncompromisingly feminine point of view, and it seems to be working. The first two books of her "Ancient Mirrors" series, Dragon Queen and The Wrekening, have received USA Book News '2007 Best Books' Finalist Awards, and the third book, Damselflies, reached #1 and remained on Amazon's Top 100 Celtic Mythology Bestseller List for seven weeks.

A case is made that Huxley drew upon his knowledge of ancient India for some of his background in "Brave New World."

Aldous Huxley was a great story teller and author of the highly acclaimed novel, Brave New World. Widely read, it came as no surprise to analyse his novel and conclude that perhaps, he was influenced by some ideas and theories depicted in Hindu Mythology. In particular, there are two things that this novel, Brave New World and Hindu Mythology have in common - the caste system and soma.

Stan Lee is accustomed to writing comic books, but on this day at the Hollywood studios of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, he helped record one for students who struggle with reading.

Stan Lee, world-famous creator of Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men and The Incredible Hulk, is accustomed to writing comic books, but on this day at the Hollywood studios of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D), he helped record one for students who struggle with reading because of a visual impairment or learning disability such as dyslexia.

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Stan Lee and Feedback together again.