Dec 7 2011 - 6:10pm
Five years ago Mark Steyn wrote a best-selling book, "America Alone,"about a world dominated by statists, politically correct multiculturalists who attack Christianity and Judaism and give militant Islam a pass, who blame Western Civilization for inventing a 'clash of civilizations,' saying that Islam is a religion of peace and is being slandered by legions of bigoted "Islamophobes"
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Dec 7 2011 - 4:35am
by Marilyn Howells
The Greater Huntington Symphonic Band and the Brass Band of the Tri-State a will perform a joint free Christmas concert in the Mains Rotunda, Riffe Center at Ohio University Southern, 1804 Liberty Ave., Ironton, OH 45638, 740-533-4602. The concert is Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. Read more
Dec 5 2011 - 6:21pm
I'm playing catch-up time with important books that I've missed so far this year -- and none is more important than J.M. Berger's "Jihad Joe: Americans Who Go to War in the Name of Islam" (Potomac Books Inc. 280 pages, bibliography, notes, index, $29.95, also available in a Kindle eBook from Amazon).
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Dec 5 2011 - 6:14pm
Everybody's heard of
Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, but how many people have heard of Samuel E. Wyly, an entrepreneur who combined aspects of all three? I have to confess that I had heard of him only in connection with his Maverick Capital company, named for the
Texas cattleman who refused to brand his herd.
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Dec 5 2011 - 1:41am
As the calendar moves from Thanksgiving to Christmas, cinemas combat the vampire teen angst , “Twilight Saga,” for an amalgamation of mystery/thrillers and “family friendly” fare. Illustrating the diversity, even within a genre, Tom Cruise takes on perhaps a last “Mission Impossible” (Dec 21) while Sherlock Holmes hunts Moriarty nearly a century before. Read more
Dec 5 2011 - 12:46am
By Marilyn Howells
Yes, it really was just that. The First Stage Theater Company and the Marshall Theater Alliance's production of this play with music, goes above and beyond. The plot centers upon the goings on in the production of a church pageant. This funny and fast paced story is enhanced by the excellent cast and choir. Read more
Dec 3 2011 - 7:53pm
I discovered "The Hypnotist" in its hardcover form at our excellent public library -- let's have a big cheer for librarians everywhere, my favorite people! -- and devoured it in two sittings. The novel by Lars Kepler, translated from the Swedish by Ann Long, is now available in a trade paperback from Picador (528 pages, $16.00) and is a worthy book in the Nordic Noir tradition of Stieg Larsson ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"), the writing duo of Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö and Henning Mankell.
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Dec 3 2011 - 4:28am
The legendary pop & country music singer, guitarist, actor and TV host, GLEN CAMPBELL wants to say farewell to his legion of fans, and will do just that when he makes a stop at the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center on his Goodbye Tour on Sunday, Dec. 11th at 3 p.m. Read more
Dec 3 2011 - 12:18am
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) - Huntington's Fourth Avenue former movie palace took on a retro music flavor for the appearance of Gary Puckett and Herman's Hermits. Both soft rockin groups debuted in the late 60s then continued to find popularity as the decades moved along and the majority of their fans became a little heavier and a little grayer. Read more
Dec 1 2011 - 12:00am
Having swamped megaplexes with an over-abundance of family friendly offerings, the Hollywood cinema gurus have decided to take a week off. That’s right. No mainstream film opens nationwide this weekend. Instead, the Thanksgiving releases remain to continue duking it out before Christmas fare starts competing against them. Read more
Nov 30 2011 - 5:46pm
I have problems with memoirs, as readers of my past reviews of them no doubt remember. But I can recommend Mary Johnson's "An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life" (Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House, 544 pages, $27.00) -- with no reservations. Johnson spares few members of her Missionaries of Charity (MC) order, founded by Mother Teresa in 1946, as well as the church's hierarchy -- and herself in telling her story.
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Nov 29 2011 - 6:22pm
If it had't been for Virginia's Lutherans and Baptists and a congressional race between two friendly rivals, America might never have had a Bill of Rights and might have been strangled while still an infant country because of squabbles over federal vs. state power says Chris DeRose in "Founding Rivals:
Madison vs. Monroe The Bill of Rights and the Election That Saved a Nation" (Regnery History, 336 pages, $27.99).
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Nov 28 2011 - 6:42pm
Growing up in Morgantown, West Virginia, G. Cameron Fuller couldn't escape the publicity of the gruesome murders of two West Virginia University women students -- the news media used the now Politically Incorrect word "coed" back then -- whose headless bodies were discovered south of Morgantown on Jan. 18, 1970.
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Nov 27 2011 - 11:52pm
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) - This is a holiday weekend and a technically confusing week for megaplexes. Expect matinees through Sunday, then , some return to the late afternoon weekday openings. Also, the three KID FRIENDLY releases opened Wednesday (Nov 23), which translates, the times listed are already current. Two of them, The Muppets and Arthur Christmas are playing in nearly all cities with enough screens; Hugo , whicih is the Martin Scorsese directed pic , has an exclusive run at Marquee Pullman Square with 2D and 3D prints. Read more
Nov 27 2011 - 12:42am
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) – Mark Bates has won the Tri State’s Got Talent competition sponsored by the Huntington Symphony Orchestra. The businessman and chairman of Huntington City Council finished first in an on line talent voting contest that had over 125,000 votes cast. Read more
Nov 26 2011 - 12:46am
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) – Prior to a tailgate for the Saturday, Nov. 26 Marshall University versus Eastern Carolina football game at the stadium, multiple- local authors will appear for a book signing at Pullman Square. Read more
Nov 24 2011 - 7:36pm
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. -- Ecclesiastes 12:12, King James Version Read more
Nov 23 2011 - 6:45pm
Greil Marcus admits to being a major league, heavy duty fan of The Doors and his book "The Doors: A Lifetime of Listening to Five Mean Years" (PublicAffairs, 224 pages, $21.99) is a worthy tribute to the band and its iconic lead singer Jim Morrison.
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Nov 22 2011 - 8:50pm
Director Martin Scorsese has been known to try a hand at several different genres. He’s most well-known for his films that take a darker look at humanity, though he has given us a pair of comedies and some documentaries as well. One thing Scorsese is not known for is making kids’ films, which is why “Hugo” became one of the most talked about films of the year. What would a man with Scorsese’s background in violent gangster films bring to the genre of children's cinema? Read more
Nov 22 2011 - 7:03pm
Just when I thought I had Jim Fusilli's "Narrows Gate" (AmazonEncore,
Las Vegas, NV, 574 pages, $14.95 trade paperback, $9.95 eBook) all figured out, the crafty mystery writer slipped me a mickey or bashed my noggin with a sap, I don't know which. At least he didn't drill me with a snubbie!
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Nov 21 2011 - 4:47am
The Huntington Symphony Orchestra has announced plans for a 2 pm Dec. 17th holiday performance. This afternoon concert will be dedicated to all children under 18 years old. Any child bringing a can of food and accompanied by an adult will be admitted FREE. Adult Tickets for this performance will be discounted to $20.00 as long as the adult is accompanying a child. Read more
Nov 19 2011 - 5:15pm
It sounds like an idea only the U.S. Army could come up with: Requisition a villa in
Nuremberg, Germanyto house both witnesses and victims of Nazi war crimes, along with the accused perpetrators of the crimes, but, as Christiane Kohl writes in "The Witness House: Nazis and Holocaust Survivors Sharing a Villa During the Nuremberg Trials" (Other Press, 272 pages, trade paperback, $14.95, translated from the German by Anthea Bell) it actually happened during the Nuremberg war crimes trials. The book has an excellent bibliography, as well as brief biographies of the people mentioned in the book. Among them is Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler's personal photographer, who made a fortune from his work.
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Nov 19 2011 - 4:18am
BECKLEY, WV (HNN) – Christian rock favorite Barlow Girl (Bacca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow) bring their frequently GMA Dova award nominated music to the Beckley /Raleigh Convention Center , Thursday, Dec 15. Presented by Marquee Live, Barlow Girl have been nominated for “new artist of the year” (2005) , group of the year (2007) , Christmas album (2009) and rock/contemporary album (Love and War) along with short form music video (“Beautiful Ending) in 2010. Read more
Nov 19 2011 - 3:06am
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) - No one wanted to sit on the front row, so for this vampire, werewolf, and human being midnight showing, all 16 auditoriums at Marquee Pullman Square had sold out. Still, the nearly 100% crowd of women began showing up for camping at the theatre doors by about 8:30 p.m. The ladies came prepared to temporarily occupy Pullman and prepared to party with the on-screen vampires, werewolves, and human beings. specifically Kristen Stewart (Bella), Robert Pattinson (Edward) and Taylor Lautner (Jacob).
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Nov 18 2011 - 5:45pm
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) - Anyone lacking knowledge of what's debuting this weekend may have been caught in a coma. It's "Twilight Breaking Dawn Part One," which breaks at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning (one minute after midnight Thursday). You can anticipate similar enthusiasm that was found in the summer when the final HARRY POTTER episode.
For the younger family friendly tykes and those who are children at heart, "Happy Feet II" debuts Friday, too. Then, on Wednesday, Nov. 23 (one day before Thanksgiving), more animated favorites, Arthur Christmas, the re-spin of "The Muppets," and "Hugo." Read more
Nov 17 2011 - 6:41pm
In "Steve Jobs" (Simon & Schuster, (646 pages, illustrations, notes, index, $35.00) Walter Isaacson sums up the co-founder of Apple with a question -- and a answer: "Was he smart? No, not exceptionally. Instead, he was a genius. His imaginative leaps were instinctive, unexpected, and at times magical." (Page 566).
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Nov 17 2011 - 1:43am
A familiar face has soared to leading the Huntington Symphony's "Tri State's got talent." Huntington City Council Chairman, Mark Bates, has risen from third to first place as the final week of on-line voting. "I need your help now more than ever. Keep the votes coming, tell your family, friends and neighbors," Bates wrote to Facebook friends. In the competition, he sang, "White Christmas." Read more
Nov 16 2011 - 10:42pm
[provided by WV Film Office]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The City of Weirton is forever etched in celluloid thanks to the award-winning filmmakers J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg, who were at the helm of this summer's blockbuster, "Super 8." And, thanks to Paramount Pictures, Weirton has been given the opportunity to screen a special featurette on Nov. 21. The featurette appears on the Blu-ray™ version of the film, which has a street date of Nov. 22. Read more
Nov 13 2011 - 9:46pm
“Immortals” is an exercise in the age-old cliché of style over substance. It’s a very pretty looking film, but there’s nothing underneath the surface. It’s one thing to go into a movie and turn your brain off, but it’s quite another thing to go into a movie, attempt to turn your brain off, and end up laughing at the absurdity of a story that is so full of holes that you could march an entire Greek army right through it. Read more
Nov 13 2011 - 8:29pm
Wouldn't it be great if war was a crime? If it could be prosecuted like murder, rape, child abuse and other crimes against humanity?
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Nov 13 2011 - 4:45pm
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) - Exotic food, music and dance from more than 15 countries highlighted Marshall University's 48th Annual International Festival. Among the countries represented France, Hungary, Brazil, Latin America (Mexico, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela), Tunisia, Mali, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, China and Japan.
Entertainment ranged from Russian soloist Ekaterina Gutsan to Japanese accoustic rock and rhythmic gymnastics from China. Read more
Nov 11 2011 - 3:58pm
Erik Larson's "In The Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, And An American Family In Hitler's Germany" (Crown Publishers, 464 pages, $26.00) is an especially relevant book on this day, Nov. 11, 2011, with the wide release of Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar," a biopic of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
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Nov 10 2011 - 4:10am
HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) - Back on August 8, 2010, Mayor Wolfe and his wife Debbie worried whether their acrobatic daughter, Mary, would ever walk again. She had suffered a shattered heel bone while performing. Her family rushed her from Missouri back to Huntington. Read more
Nov 8 2011 - 5:09pm
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – After years of absence, Alpha Psi Omega, the honor society for theatre, is making its way back to Marshall University’s Huntington campus. Nicole Perrone, assistant professor of theatre at Marshall, said Alpha Psi Omega was formed at Fairmont State Normal School (now Fairmont State University) in Fairmont, W.Va., in 1925. Marshall students formed the second chapter of the organization. Read more
Nov 7 2011 - 6:39pm
There's a lot going on in "Hot Water" (Vanguard Press, 304 pages, $25.99), a thriller by Erin Brockovich with CJ Lyons, but it might have been an even better book if there wasn't so much in it. The novel is especially timely in the wake of the 2011 nuclear disaster in
Fukushima Japan and the ongoing probe of the
Huntington Pilot Plant (latest link:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/12630).
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