"Twenty-Eight Artists and Two Saints: Essays" by Joan Acocella; Pantheon; 524 pages; $30. I pretty much read these 30 essays over the course of 30 evenings, and by the end of the first week it had become like returning time and again to a drop-dead thriller at about the second-to-last chapter. You know the feeling, or at least I hope you do: The sharp little leap of the heart as you collapse onto the bed ... [full story]

Film will be executive produced by Clint Eastwood and directed by Bruce Ricker Netflix, in association with its Red Envelope Entertainment division, announced Tuesday it had acquired worldwide rights to produce and distribute a new documentary exploring and celebrating the life and career of the legendary recording artist and concert performer, Tony Bennett. "Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends" will be directed by Bruce Ricker ("The Last of the Blue Devils," "Clint Eastwood: Out of ... [full story]

The Buried Sea Introduces EverQuest Players to the Magical Energeian Powers Sony Online Entertainment, a global leader in the online games industry, today announced EverQuest The Buried Sea, the most recent expansion for the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, EverQuest, is now live. EverQuest The Buried Sea is available only via digital download, for the suggested retail price of U.S. $29.99 at http://www.station.com/ "The Buried Sea is the thirteenth expansion for EverQuest, which is coming ... [full story]

Rich Boy, the first hip-hop artist from Mobile, Alabama to sign a major-label record deal, will release his self-titled debut album on Zone 4/Interscope Records on March 13, 2007. "Throw Some D's," the first single from the LP, is a worldwide hit, having topped the Billboard singles charts and music video playlists on BET and MTV2. The success of the original spawned a popular, star-studded remix produced by Lil Jon and Polow Da Don, which ... [full story]

Four-time Grammy Award-winning artist Christina Aguilera, winner of Sunday night's Grammy for best female pop vocal performance, six-time Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Toni Braxton, and six-time Grammy Award-winning artist Mary J. Blige, who took home three Grammys Sunday night, will headline the entertainment for NBA All-Star 2007 in Las Vegas. Aguilera and Braxton will headline the halftime show of the 56th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET at the Thomas ... [full story]

Who Will Dominate Headlines and Why According to Joel Epstein, "The Ego Guy," and author of The Little Book On Big Ego, "When big egos collide there's always friction -- good or bad -- and where there's friction, there's going to be fire." The following people will cause controversy, alter history, and spark the most significant friction flames this year. 1. Simon Cowell Snarky, unapologetic and cutting, Cowell's ego brings American Idol contestants to their ... [full story]

Robert Barr, a courtesy professor in the College of Education at Oregon State University and former dean of the college, has co-authored a book on teaching children in poverty. Barr, who served as dean in the College of Education from 1981 to 1991, co-authored “The Kids Left Behind: Catching Up the Underachieving Children of Poverty” with William Parrett, a professor of education at Boise State University. It was published by Solution Tree. “Bob’s new book ... [full story]

Film Will Bring to Life Disney's Latest Franchise in This All New CG-Animated Feature Walt Disney Pictures' all new CG-animated feature "Tinker Bell" will arrive worldwide in Fall 2008 from Disney's Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment it was announced Friday by Bob Chapek, president of BVWHE. "Tinker Bell," produced by DisneyToon Studios, will be the first time audiences hear Tinker Bell speak, as the movie brings to life the amazing world of Disney Fairies, The Walt ... [full story]

Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Award winner Sam Moore today garnered a Grammy nomination for his performance of "You Are So Beautiful" with its author, the late Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph and Zucchero in the R&B Traditional Vocal Collaboration category. The track was recorded before Billy's untimely death June 6th of this year and is from Moore's critically acclaimed album, "Overnight Sensational," produced by American Idol's Randy Jackson. About ... [full story]

The BendFilm Board, along with founder and retiring executive director, Katie Merritt, announced today that Merritt’s replacement has been hired. Erik Jambor, the co-founder and former director of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival / Alabama Moving Image Association (AMIA), has accepted the director position effective February 15.   Erik Jambor was named new Executive Director of BendFilm “BendFilm could not be more pleased to have found Erik.” Stephen Archer, president of the BendFilm board of directors, said.  ... [full story]

NEW RELEASES   'BREAKING AND ENTERING' - Jude Law and Juliette Binoche star in the crime drama 'Breaking and Entering.' CNS Photo courtesy of MGM.BREAKING AND ENTERING -- Acting arrives in bracing streaks and packets in Anthony Minghella's "Breaking and Entering." In sync arrive the panting themes -- virtually posed in order, almost cross-indexed for our study. Minghella, whose big Oscar hunters include "Cold Mountain," "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "The English Patient," makes film ambition quite ... [full story]

Ken Burns was in a hurry. He couldn't stick around for the tears this time. But he promised to come back. The famous documentary filmmaker was in San Diego recently, showing clips from his new epic, "The War," a 14-hour series about World War II, to about 150 people. Burns has been doing this all over the country, a "payback" tour instead of a press tour. A grateful payback to the ever-dwindling number of veterans ... [full story]

Kathy LeMay, founder of Raising Change, promotes philanthropy with her unique vision Nationally recognized expert on women and philanthropy, Kathy LeMay will be in Bend on Tuesday, March 20, at the invitation of Molly Kreuzman, co-director of Coyote Trails School of Nature.   Kathy LeMay will speak at The Tower Theatre in Bend on March 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 and on sale now at the Tower Theatre box office. The event starts at 7 p.m. ... [full story]