August 28, 2004

Check out a great addition to local book store shelves this week in a rave review of THE LAST KNIGHT:The Twilight of the Middle Ages and the Birth of the Modern Era...

Meanwhile, a history-making conciliation took place between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church when the Vatican finally decided to returned the Virgin of Kazan icon to Russia this week. And so ends years of controversial wrangling - which all began with the original historic work dating to the 13th century...

And another Madonna is back in the news - with a new exercise regime that brings back the rack. Yes, the medieval rack...or what the company genteely calls the Gyrotonic Expansion System. But it sure looks painful...

August 22, 2004

This week, check out an amazing online tour at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, California, and get the facts about China's pioneering work in astronomy and the tools they invented to document ancient outer space. A medieval water-powered mechanical clock, star charts and sun dials tell the story. Dragon Skies: Astronomy of Imperial China...

And in case you haven't been out to Grand Rapids, Michigan lately and missed the Public Museum's mounting of "Gratia Dei: A Journey Through the Middle Ages" you're in luck. For a good time, click http://www.grmuseum.org/exhibits/gratia_dei/index1.shtml...

Meanwhile, in Paris, the Museum of the Middle Ages catalogs Romanesque sculpture from the Boi Valley as described in this story from Art Museum Network News. You can also check out the mini-tour at the museum...

August 18, 2004

Modern meets medieval here in New York this week with the opening of Mankynde: The Postmodern Medieval Musical, a self-described "mix of Election 2004 and TV's Fear Factor, proving that the great moral issues facing the world half a millennia ago still deserve ridicule today..."

And everything medieval is new once again in the UK with the first court jester competition in modern times (see: Jester wanted, must be mirthful) hosted by English Heritage. The first such official hiring since the days of Oliver Cromwell, the new job description includes creating mirth at historic places throughout Britain - but only on summer weekends. The pay? Negotiable. Check out the lucky winner here...

And if you had any doubt that we're re-living in interesting times, click over to the National Public Radio special to read about all the trouble in : The Middle East and the West: The Crusades...

August 3, 2004

If you interests run toward the medieval AND modern movie making (and whose doesn't?) check out the art and craft of visual effects over at BBC for a behind the scenes look at the making of King Arthur now in local movie theaters. Lore, legend and history mixed with a lesson in modern movie production including film clips and special effects in action....and while you're at it, click over to the official King Arthur movie site for more early Anglo Saxon thrills...and get a deep dig on the real legend here plus pay homage at the gravesite...