| How Odd of God. . . .
Milton Himmelfarb was the Samuel Johnson of modern (or postmodern) life: A brilliant essayist with an uncanny ear for language and the ability to deliver large truths in small packages. His essays are tightly written and argued, and the same holds for nearly every paragraph and sentence they contain: Like Johnson, Himmelfarb was a formidable stylist, one of the best of his age. Like Johnson, he knew how to point out deep truths that seem obvious in retrospect. Like Johnson, he was profoundly religious and knew how to say so plainly, movingly--and wryly and wittily. He resembled Dr. Johnson in leaving us at the end of each essay, and at the end of his life (he died last year), wishing he would go on. And he was like Johnson, above all, in being like nobody except himself. This book of essays was compiled and edited by his distinguished sister Gertrude Himmelfarb--aka Mrs.
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. .
Army's game plan draws flak
Anti-recruitment groups are slamming a US Army deal to sponsor a computer war game channel, charging that real war is no game. In June, the Army is set to sponsor a channel at the Global Gaming League website, a popular spot for internet computer game lovers. "It is part of this campaign for the last 20 years to invade youth culture with militarism," Project on Youth and Non-military Opportunities co-founder Rick Jahnkow told AFP. "It affects the way young people think. It affects their world view. That is a very dangerous thing." A first-person shooter game based on the army training manual will be a centerpiece of the channel, which will feature other games in the same genre. The "America's Army" game was released about five years ago and ranks in the top 10 most popular computer games of its kind, according to McCann World Group vice president Anders Ekman, who is handling the project for the Army.
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.
Hispanic Culture's Bold Colors Gain Wider Acceptance
AKRON, Ohio - As this country's Hispanic population has grown, so has its contributions to mainstream American culture. The food. The music. And now, the decor. Hispanic influences are a growing force in home decorating. The vibrant colors, rustic woods and heavy, large-scale furniture are finding their way into our style consciousness. Credit Cristina Saralegui with kick-starting the trend. The Cuban-born talk show host, who's often called the "Hispanic Oprah," partnered with Pulaski Furniture in 2004 to create a furniture collection, and she has since expanded her Casa Cristina brand to accessories, rugs, lighting and even mattresses. Her bedding and bath collection arrived at Kohl's department stores nationwide this spring. You can't get much more mainstream than that. The spread of Latin American and Spanish influence probably shouldn't come as a surprise, given that Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the United States, according to the U.S.
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