| The New Testament according to Carl Amari
Finding the perfect Jesus was no problem for Carl Amari -- he just called up James Caviezel, who starred in The Passion of the Christ -- but making a deal with just the right devil has turned out to be harder than hell. "And you need a good Satan," Amari said with a bit of exasperation, "because Satan has some of the best lines in the Bible." Amari is a 43-year-old Chicago entrepreneur who made a fortune in the late 1980s by salvaging old-time radio shows and repackaging them on cassette tapes. Now Amari sees a golden opportunity in giving the family Bible a serious digital upgrade -- he's behind The Word of Promise, a lavishly produced, word-for-word dramatic reading of the Bible by Caviezel and other Hollywood stars that, when it's completed, will fill 70 CDs. The first part of the project, a 20-CD set of the New Testament for $49.95, will arrive in stores in October.
Research finds that culture is key to interpreting facial expressions
The University of Alberta study reveals that in cultures where emotional control is the standard, such as Japan, focus is placed on the eyes to interpret emotions. In cultures where emotion is openly expressed, such as the United States, the focus is on the mouth to interpret emotion.
Across two studies, using computerized icons and human images, the researchers compared how people from Japanese and American cultures interpreted images, which conveyed a range of emotions.
"These findings go against the popular theory that the facial expressions of basic emotions can be universally recognized," said Dr. Takahiko Masuda a U of A professor in the Department of Psychology. "A person's culture plays a very strong role in determining how they will perceive emotions and needs to be considered when interpreting facial expression"
These cultural differences are even noticeable in computer emoticons, which are used to convey a writer's emotions over e-mail and text messaging.
PM launches funding guide for cultural groups
Prime Minister and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Helen Clark today launched a search engine aimed at helping cultural groups match projects with potential funders. The easy-to-use funding guide is hosted by NZLive.com, the new cultural portal which went live last September. Helen Clark said the guide would be a valuable tool for helping cultural organisations and individuals search for potential sources of funding for their projects. .
Minority recruitment paying off
Luke Wadowick came to Purdue this academic year and immediately joined the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. The thing is, Wadowick, a freshman in hospitality and tourism management, isn't a minority and neither are many members of the group. "Our main reason to have a minority group is to raise awareness," said Leana Gonsalves, president of the group. Gonsalves said having a mix of minorities and non-minority students helps mesh the cultures and understanding in their field. Wadowick joining a minority group could be one of the results of Purdue's push to increase diversity on campus. The push has been strong and produced results, as highlighted in a report to the board of trustees earlier this month. "It's a part of everything we're doing," president Martin Jischke said.
Bishoujo Game "Yume Miru Kusuri :: A Drug That Makes You Dream ...
JAST USA affiliate brand Peach Princess, the leading publisher of Japanese PC dating-sim games in English, announces the completion of production and immediate release of Yume Miru Kusuri :: A Drug That Makes You Dream. This interactive dating simulation game for Windows, intended for adults aged 18 and older, is the latest in Peach Princess's popular lineup of bishoujo games - games featuring beautiful women with whom the player can form meaningful relationships via choices taken throughout the story. The game is set in a pastel-hued version of postmodern Japan, where you take the role of student Kagami Kouhei and guide his quest to find meaning and color in an otherwise lackluster existence. Along the way you interact with several girls, each exceptional in their own way, who hold out the promise of the answer you've been seeking - Aeka, the target of merciless bullying, Mizuki, the reckless student council president, and Nekoko, a strangely vital girl who insists she is a "fairy of the night".
East Africa: Popular Literature in East Africa Gets a Shot in the Arm
The launch of Urban Legends, Colonial Myths: Popular Culture and Literature in East Africa at the University of Nairobi was a major step in the development of popular literature in East Africa. Popular literature is a loose term used to refer to non-elitist or 'serious' books. .
GSN Orders New Game Show from Buena Vista Productions
SANTA MONICA, March 29: GSN, the network for games, has ordered 40 half-hour episodes of Camouflage, a new hidden word puzzle and trivia game show, from Disney's Buena Vista Productions. Camouflage marks the first collaboration between Buena Vista Productions and GSN. The series is set to begin production the last week of May, and will be executive produced by Terrence McDonnell and Jonathan Barry. Producers are currently casting the role of the host. Taping in Hollywood, Camouflage is a fast-paced game show of hidden word puzzles with crossword type clues ranging from general knowledge to pop culture. Contestants are shown letter puzzles and they must find the correct words hidden among the puzzle's decoy letters. Jamie Roberts, GSN's SVP of programming, commented: "I couldn't be more thrilled than to be in business with Buena Vista Productions on this smart, playful, first-class game show.
Satire busts a hump
PEOPLE endlessly complain that Hollywood is full of dopey, superficial films bereft of anything new to say. And they're right. Anyone looking for art that is edgy or relevant — and inspires comment — is turning to Internet video, which has become the true engine driving our pop culture.
Nothing demonstrates this better than the tsunami-like viral success of Alanis Morissette's "My Humps," which surfaced three weeks ago on YouTube and quickly became the most popular video on the channel, attracting 5.5 million views, easily outdistancing such rivals as "Otters Holding Hands" and "Farting in Public."
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