Topic: Arts & Literature

Women crucified in art, also comes to mind when this artist shares her life situation along with a popularity contest between her "Super Girl" painting and her painting of "Venus - Goddess of Love."

We question if Barbara Wurden is painting "women crucified in art" instead of "warrior angel art" with her passionately narrated canvases. She calls them "video diaries" and it's where she shares her current life situation as she summons the goddesses for assistance through this art form.

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"Venus - Goddess of Love"

Patricia Aufderheide, an expert on documentary film at American University’s School of Communication, says that the film documentary has come into its own.

Last year, the widely-distributed An Inconvenient Truth won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. This year, Michael Moore’s Sicko, another documentary that enjoyed mainstream success, is among the nominations for the same category. Patricia Aufderheide, an expert on documentary film at American University’s School of Communication, says this is a sign of the times.

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Compact disc release aimed at fighting malaria and increasing awareness about the fatal disease that kills more than one million people every year. For each album sold, the label will procure and distribute 2 insecticide treated mosquito nets in Africa. Bed nets are the most cost effective way to combat malaria.

Independent record label releases album Save My Soul -- Music To Prevent Malaria, a compilation of songs performed by children affected by malaria.

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Children of Chifwema village learn how to use their brand new insecticide treated mosquito nets

Antoinette Sarcinella's "Wolf & Owl Remember" is an entertaining read delivering profound wisdom that will not only be enjoyed by children, but adults reading it with them.

Author Antoinette Sarcinella reaches into her Native American Folklore history to create her new children's story presented as an ancient lesson of wisdom to help with today's world problems. Antoinette draws on her Hunkpapa, Lakota, and Assiniboineown heritage to bring her book, Wolf & Owl Remember, to a level that all cultures can identify with. Kumi, a young boy full of spirit and curiosity, comes across an injured bird. In a compassionate effort to help the bird, Kumi takes it home. The bird recognizes Kumi's innocent eagerness for knowledge and introduces him to a Wolf and Owl. The animals take Kumi on a mystical journey through space and time where they and other animals share their stories of life.

National publicity expands for Austin metaphysical artist Mickie Bellah. Bellah’s oil paintings and art can be found in four recent publications.

Metaphysical artist Mickie Bellah's oil paintings are continuing to gain national recognition. First, Mystic Pop Magazine featured her art in an extensive article in the November/December issue. Then Innerchange, a magazine about mindful living, selected "Purple-2" from Bellah's new Luminescence series for the cover of its December/January issue, on newsstands and online now.

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"Purple" by Mickie Bellah

"InAlienable," written and produced by Walter Koenig and starring Battlestar Galactica's Richard Hatch & TNG's Marina Sirtis makes worldwide premiere on the Internet on Saturday, December 15, 2007.

InAlienable, the first production from Renegade Studios, will become the first full-length sci-fi feature film to premiere on the Internet. Through the magic of digital technology, beginning Saturday, December 15, the entire 105-minute feature can be viewed in exceptional full screen HD quality on any relatively new PC or Mac with a broadband connection. The film will be available at www.renegade-studios.com for $2.99 per showing.

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Jerome Bixby's "The Man From Earth" sees ranking on IMDb MOVIEmeter go from #11,235 to #6 in two weeks. The independent film is now ranked as the 14th best Sci-Fi film ever.

While the conundrum facing the film industry over Internet piracy heats up, one producer of an independent low-budget film has taken matters into his own hands...

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Richard Riehle as Dr. Will Guber in The Man From Earth

The day after the DVD release (11/13/07) of his film Jerome Bixby's The Man From Earth, producer Eric D. Wilkinson took the groundbreaking step to directly address peer-to-peer file sharing constituents. On the blog rlslog.net he thanked the "pirates" for downloading his film. He also requested that they spread the word, buy the DVD and donate money for their viewing to the film at www.manfromearth.com.

Pianist & composer, David Hicken has released a new CD featuring solo piano music to help bring peace and inner calm. Perfect for relaxation, yoga and meditation, "Goddess" includes 12 tracks of beautiful melodies infused with rich harmonies. "Piano music to nurture your soul" is how David describes his new CD.

Pianist, David Hicken, has released a new CD entitled Goddess.

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A gorgeous recording featuring 12 new original compositions for solo piano, Goddess was released on November 15th by Enchanting Music. A world traveller, David, who is originally from England, lived in Sri Lanka and Thailand. "While living in Sri Lanka, I was trekking through a jungle near Hikkaduwa and came across the most beautiful Hindu temple. I was so inspired and overwhelmed by the beauty of the stone carvings and artwork that the music for Lakshmi suddenly came to me." Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Prosperity and is the title of the first track of the CD.

Writer's Guild strike may be a blessing in disguise to independent film makers. Unknown Productions, a small Southern California film and video production company has cast James Kyson Lee (NBC, "Heroes") and George Stults, the star of "7th Heaven," for it's up-coming psychological horror film, Necrosis.

Unknown Productions Incorporated is in preproduction on the Independent Psychological Horror Film, Necrosis, and has cast James Kyson Lee (NBC Heroes) as one of the lead characters, "Jerry." Necrosis is set to begin production in Lake Tahoe, California in January 2008.

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James Kyson Lee / Publicity Still

Allen Watty's new song "Sometimes I Wish I Was White" opens new door of communication about race relations. The lyrics go: "Sometimes I feel, I wish I was white, so I could feel, just how it feels to be treated right. I'm not ashamed of me. Just one time, I want to see, how it feels to be treated equally."

Independent singer Allen Watty has just taken controversy to another level. Watty is best known as the singer of the "Hurricane Song," which won rave national reviews from ABC News, MSNBC.com and CNN.

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Singer Allen Watty

Now, he's back with another tune called "Sometimes I Wish I Was White". In the song, Watty reveals that he's not at all ashamed of being black -- but that he has learned that you have to be white to be treated 100 percent equally.