Director Peter Chan Talks about 'Wu Xia'

2011-10-09 13:20:59 Xinhua Web Editor: Liu

Director Peter Chan of China's Hong Kong said Sunday that his latest film, "Wu Xia," paid homage to traditional martial arts films that he grew up with, yet demystifies their typical nature.
More here!

How the average bookshelf is packed with 80 novels we haven't read in bid to look clever

• Fifth of men admit to stealing their partners' 'chick-lit'

By Louise Boyle

Last updated at 3:39 PM on 6th October 2011

Readers pack their shelves at home with 80 books they haven’t read to appear more intelligent, a study revealed today.

The research found that 70 per cent of books in the average household’s bookcase remain unopened and a third of people admit they have no intention of reading them.

Four in ten also confessed that some works of literature are purely there for display purposes. More here.

Judging a book by its cover: An average household hasn't read 70 per cent of the titles on its bookshelves - they are just there to look good

The cabbage patch skull: Artist turns heads with his horrific vegetable sculptures

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 12:15 PM on 3rd October 2011

These skull-ful creations are turning heads across the globe.

Russian artist Dimitri Tsykalov uses an axe, saw and electrical drill to carve human skulls out of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The 48-year-old then uses a scalpel, pincers and cotton wool pads to add and smooth remarkable detail with 'surgical precision'. More here!

Precise: Artist Dimitri Tsykalov uses an axe, saw and electrical drill to carve human skulls from vegetables, this skull is made from a cabbage

The Raven - Read by Christopher Lee

Religious-Right Homophobes Whine That They're Being Oppressed

It's important to remember that we are talking about people opposing core civil rights for American citizens. MORE HERE.

September 29, 2011 |

Lydia Lunch - Spooky

Rowland S. Howard & Lydia Lunch - Some Velvet Morning

The Mo-Dettes - Sparrow

Kleenex - Hedi's Head (1978)

LiLiPUT - Turk / Split live

The Santa Delusion: Why 'Religion Is Useful' Is a Terrible Argument For Religion

The argument from utility -- the defense of religion, not because it's true, but because it's psychologically or socially useful -- is freakishly common.

July 29, 2011 |

"But religion is useful. It makes people happy. It comforts people in hard times. It makes people better-behaved. And losing religious faith can be traumatic. So what difference does it make if it isn't true? Shouldn't we be perpetuating it anyway -- or at least leaving it alone? Why do you want to persuade people out of it?" More here.

Reel China: Targets an elusive film fan — the Chinese American

Masanobu Ando as "The Chef" in the movie "The Butcher, The Chef and the Swordsman" from China Lion Film Distribution and Fox International Productions. (China Lion Film)

By John Horn, Los Angeles Times

March 20, 2011

For years, Chinese films shown in U.S. theaters have fallen into two distinct camps, both driven by largely white patrons: martial-arts movies for young men, such as Jet Li's "Hero," or critically acclaimed art-house fare, such as Kaige Chen's "Farewell My Concubine." More here.

"No more time-travel drama", authority says it disrespects history

From QQ:

Now there’s an interesting trend in China’s film and television industry: more and more time-travel themed dramas are made and aired. In these time-travel based TV plays, usually the protagonist is from the modern time and for some reasons and via some means, travels through time and all the way back to the ancient China where he/she will constantly experience the "culture shock" but gradually get used to it and eventually develop a romance in that era. Though obviously the Chinese audience is found of this genre of shows, the country’s authority -General Bureau of Radio, Film and Television, to be exact, is not happy about this trend and calls a halt to the making of this type of drama. More here.

Stop the Meddling: Incorporate Your Uterus Today!

Isn’t it interesting how Republican politicians are so eager to get regulators out of corporate boardrooms and into women’s bedrooms? More here!

Kim Jae Wook and Kim Dong Wan to star in musical, “Hedwig”

Kim Jae Wook and Kim Dong Wan to star in musical, “Hedwig”

Kim Dong-wan of Shinhwa and model-turned-actor Kim Jae-wook will take the stage as a transgender rock singer in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” from May. More here.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) In Opposition to the Pence Amendment

Jubilee - Amyl Nitrate - Rule Britannia

Neanderthals cooked and ate vegetables

By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News

Hunter, gatherer, vegetarian masterchef?

Neanderthals cooked and ate plants and vegetables, a new study of Neanderthal remains reveals.

Researchers in the US have found grains of cooked plant material in their teeth. More here.

Political views 'hard-wired' into your brain

Tories may be born not made, claims a study that suggests people with right wing views have a larger area of the brain associated with fear.

The brains of MPs and students were examined Photo: CORBIS

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent 5:00PM GMT 28 Dec 2010
Scientists have found that people with conservative views have brains with larger amygdalas, almond shaped areas in the centre of the brain often associated with anxiety and emotions. More here.