By Duncan Hewitt, Newsweek, Aug. 9, 2008

Thanks to newfound wealth, liberal arts courses are starting to bloom in the developing world. China's academies are obsessed with getting ahead in engineering and the hard sciences, so the subject of the master's program Dalian Medical University introduced three years ago—photojournalism—seemed surprising. Not long ago, such esoteric pursuits were almost unheard of in a nation obsessed with building a modern economy. Read more>>

By Willow Duttge, Conde Nast Portfolio, July 13, 2008

Although Benny Torres recently graduated from college with a degree in psychology and advertising, he got his current job simply by being himself: a 23-year-old guy who’s totally into videogames. Torres spends most of his waking hours playing the latest games and reading all the latest gaming news and gossip online. And since last year, he’s been doing it from a cubicle in the Chicago headquarters of ad agency Leo Burnett. Read more>>

Award-winning art director Kate Whatley has been elected President and CEO of local American Advertising Federation chapter Ad 2 Tampa Bay—the national organization's 2008 Ad 2 Club of the Year. An advertising creative by trade and a graduate of the International Academy of Design & Technology, Kate brings a wide array of talent, creative ability and leadership skills to the organization. By day, Kate is currently the Art Director at PeakBiety branding + advertising, an agency focusing on adding value to its clients by improving customer perceptions. She has art directed numerous projects for local and national clients, earning her Gold and Silver ADDY awards from the Tampa Bay Ad Federation and the American Advertising Federation – 4th District. Ad 2 Tampa Bay is the unified voice of Tampa Bay's emerging advertising professionals. By combining the Tampa Bay area's brightest developing talent while working in conjunction with the AAF's national network of over 50,000 members, Ad 2 Tampa Bay seeks to raise the profile and prestige of the local advertising industry through education, legislation, and public service. For more information, contact Holly Clark, Communications Director, at 813-380-492 or communicate@ad2tampabay.org.

The Arts Council of Hillsborough County is currently accepting applications through August 29, 2008 to fill four vacancies on its Board of Directors. Terms are for four years and financial disclosure is required. Members must be qualified electors residing in Hillsborough County, having general knowledge of the arts with specific and in-depth emphasis on one or more of the arts, as well as active involvement in the arts. Applications are available at the Arts Council offices located at 1000 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 105 or by clicking on the link below to download a form. Download Application here.

The Clip Film Festival presents Fierce Fabulous Film!
By Chuck Henson

By the time Project Runway’s Christian Siriano popularized the word “fierce”, Friends of the Festival had produced nearly two decades of Fierce, Fabulous Film events in Tampa Bay! This October, Clip 19 (the 19th annual Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) will return to the screens of the Tampa Theatre and Muvico Baywalk Theatres.

This 11-day festival, named as one of the top 25 events in Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, also ranks as the 6th largest Gay/Lesbian Film Festival in the United States, bringing an audience of approximately 14,000 to its year-round schedule of film events.

In 1988, Tampa’s GLBT film festival was originally named the Pride Film Festival then in the 1990’s became known as the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF). Beginning with the 2008 season the name Clip was added as an umbrella name for the organization and officially become the DBA name for Friends of the Festival, Inc.

“Clip” unifies everything Friends of the Festival does, including year round programming through the Film Series and Film Outreach programs. Clip creates a unifying name and brand that adds some fun, personality and harmony between all these events. Clip brings together all people who are interested in seeing great independent film.  Clip also allows us to extend our mission outside the greater Tampa Bay metropolitan area.

Complete information on Clip 19 (October 2-12) may be found at www.ClipFilmFestival.com, through the event MySpace page (www.myspace.com/friendsofthefestival), or by calling the festival offices at 813-879-4220. Ticket/pass prices range from $9 to $500.

Chuck Henson is executive director of the Clip Film Festival.

The Problem With Walk Score and the Possibilities of Carbon Goggles
By Alex Steffen, WorldChanging.com, July 31, 2008

So, last week the good folks at Walk Score released their rankings of the walkability of U.S. cities. Though it may be difficult for some of our European readers to believe, walking is still a somewhat radical concept in many parts of the U.S., and for that reason alone, these guys are making a real contribution simply by giving us a way to talk about how easy it is to hoof it from one place to another. But like so many ratings systems, this one is very far from perfect. Walk Score's site admits as much. Read more>>

HART Board of Directors Votes to Move Forward on Rail Study

On Aug. 4, at the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), the Board voted to develop a work plan for system expansion and to undertake an alternative analysis study which may result in a county rail project. With the unanimous vote, the Board authorized staff to conduct an alternative analysis study to update the 2002 Tampa Rail Project and begin the process of competing for federal funds for a rail system in Hillsborough County. The alternative analysis study is required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in order to receive funding through the New Starts program, which funds BRT and rail projects. The study would look at various modes - including rail - and identify funding options, establish timelines and include extensive public outreach. In other action, the HART Board approved proposed bus service adjustments for November, along with a 25-cent increase in base local fares with revisions recommended by staff. The complete list of service changes and the new fare chart are available on HART's website, www.gohart.org.

Harriet Crothamel Muller: A Tribute to an Unpublished Artist
Aug. 8-Sept. 27

The Tarpon Springs Cultural Center presents the paintings of Harriet Crothamel Muller (1911-2005). Born in Dalton, Pennsylvania, lifelong artist Harriet Crothamel Muller created art using pencil, chalk, pastels and oil paint. As a young woman she started out as yearbook artist in high school, set designer and photography assistant. She later attended the Women's Art School at New York's Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. In 1964 she began studying portraiture with renowned artist Wassily Sommer. Sommer, a Russian immigrant, was a cellist, painter and educator at the University of Alaska. After several years in Alaska, she moved to Tarpon Springs; the Sponge Docks and surrounding areas provided new subject matter for her work. She later retired to Old Town, Florida where she spent her time on family portraits and capturing on canvas the many images she photographed during her extensive travels around the world. Admission to the Cultural Center is free, hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday 12 to 4 pm. Call 727-942-5605 or go to www.tarponarts.org for more information.

Industrial Landscapes
Aug. 7-29

Kicking off the fall William and Nancy Oliver Gallery series is an exhibition by those enrolled in the theme course, Building Landscapes, taught by Assistant Professor Elisabeth Condon. Industrial Landscapes features the work of fourteen students who combined or translated their impressions of the USF Library, USF Botanical Garden and/or the University Mall. The exhibit is open Aug. 7-Aug. 29 from 12-3 p.m. For additional information visit www.art.usf.edu or visit the Building Landscapes class blog, http://buildinglandscape.blogspot.com.

Wine, Dine, Canine
Tues., Aug. 12, 5-7 p.m.

Not your ordinary happy hour: a fundraiser and yappy hour for "Get Rescued …in Gulfport,” a non-profit organization benefiting dozens of local pet groups. Bring your 4-legged friend and participate in a raffle, grab bags, discounts, doggie menu and dinner specials. Prizes for Best Looking dog, Cutest Dog etc. At Elements Global Cuisine, 3121 Beach Blvd, Gulfport. Call 727-343-9894 or go to www.elementsglobalcuisine.com.

Descending Sideways: A Night of Theater Readings and Performances
Wed., Aug. 13, 8 p.m.

What characters do you have lying in the dark recesses of your mind? Explore the world we live in through the distorted lens of Jordan Stovall and Jared O'Roark; two writers who have come together to share their view of the world. Learn More: http://www.studio620.org/620/e_dssw.php.

Book signing: William McKeen
Thurs., Aug. 14, 7 p.m.

On Thursday, August 14 at 7 p.m., at Inkwood Books, William McKeen, University of Florida Professor of journalism, will discuss and sign his biography, Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson. McKeen gets behind the drinking and drugs to show the intelligence and influence of the writer and the man whose unique participatory journalism revolutionized the genre. Superbly researched, this is the seminal biography of the legendary cultural icon, "robust, readable and altogether illuminating" (Tampa Tribune). For more information, call 813-253-2638 or go to www.inkwoodbooks.com.

Embedded
Aug. 14-31

Jobsite Theater finishes their ninth season by once again breaking all of their records, giving them their best season yet in terms of attendance and box office receipts. They also hope to do some good for local political organizations surrounding their performances of Embedded, written by noted actor and activist Tim Robbins. Set in the fictional “Gomorrah” where American forces are preparing to do battle with “the butcher of Babylon,” Embedded is an audacious and often hilarious satire-drama about the start of the Iraq War. Embedded runs Aug. 14-31 in the Shimberg Playhouse at TBPAC, where Jobsite is resident theater company. Age recommendation: 16+ Contains adult language. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 4pm with all tickets priced at $24.50. There is a special $10 preview at 8pm on Wed., Aug. 13. Rush ticket prices for students, seniors and military are $10 and will only be available 30 minutes prior to curtain with cash and valid ID at the TBPAC Ticket Office window. For more information about Embedded, visit www.JobsiteTheater.org.

Enlightened Leadership
Thurs., Aug. 14; 7:30 a.m. networking reception & breakfast buffet; 8:00 a.m. meeting starts promptly

Please join the Tampa Bay Technology Leadership Association on August 14th for our quarterly meeting - and bring a friend or colleague. Thomas R. Saavedra, Ph.D will facilitate a dynamic presentation and discussion on Enlightened Leadership. Productivity can be sustained only in an organizational culture that stimulates loyalty and commitment from its employees. But how do you create such a culture? An organization's capacity for creating a constructive organizational culture is determined by the emotional intelligence of its leaders. The TBTLA meeting will be held at the University of Tampa, Vaughn Center, Tampa. RSVP to Dale Hempel of Jagged Peak, TBTLA Membership Chair by email at dalehempel@earthlink.net, or by phone (813) 220-5332.

WMNF Jazz Series: Larue Nickelson
Thurs., Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Join an intimate crowd of only 30 people lucky enough to see LaRue Nickelson, local jazz guitarist and composer, perform live with his band in the Mike Eisenstadt Live Music Studio at WMNF. Nickelson has performed around the world and right here at home in Florida with artists such as Ira Sullivan, Chick Corea, and Eric Darius. He has nearly 40 compositions to his credit, and has recorded with Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge, the Michael Ross Quartet, and Greenwich Blue. His first solo project, Dark Water, has just been released featuring his original compositions. For more information, go to www.wmnf.org.

The Full Monty
Aug. 15-31

M.A.D. Theatre of Tampa is proud to complete our 2007-2008 season with The Full Monty, the hit Broadway musical-comedy based on the 1987 British film of the same name. Seeing how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during their "Girls' Night Out," unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York come up with a bold way to make some quick cash. In the process they find renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun. August 15-17, 22-24 and 28-31; evening & matinee performances available. $20 Advance Purchase/ $22 At the door/ $18 Students and Military. HCC Ybor Theatre, Palm Avenue and Avenue Republica de Cuba (14th Street). Directed by Justyn Wade Dansby, choreography by Elizabeth Robins-Edelson, musical Direction by Phyllis Gessler, produced by Adam Bost. Call (813) 386-6173 (M.A.D. Theatre Box Office) or purchase online at www.stagetix.com. Further information available at www.madtheatre.com.

Gasparilla Int’l Film Festival Party & Auction
Fri., Aug. 15, 7:30-10:30 p.m.

The Gasparilla International Film Festival party/auction will take place from 7:30pm- 10:30pm on Friday, August 15th at the Don Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn. The upstairs of the Don Vicente will be the silent auction side with artworks inspired by feature films by Robert Wegman, Chad Cardoza, Jason Fondren, Brandon Dunlap, Jennifer Alfonso, Katrina Wilson, Matt Moore and others. The downstairs (basement) will be a 'groovy cat' lounge with DJ, free Stella Artois/cocktails/ hors d’oeuvres for the first hour and cash bar after that. Free admission! There will also be a local film from the Guzzo Brothers (‘Ghosts of Ybor’) depicting Ybor City in the 30's and projected on the wall in a very cool fashion. Learn more: http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com.

Art After Dark with Starbucks: The Art of Reggae
Fri., Aug. 15, 8-11 p.m.

Experience the sounds of Reggae at Art After Dark with Starbucks on August 15
The Tampa Museum of Art will present The Art of Reggae at the August 15 Art After Dark with Starbucks event from 8 - 11 p.m. The sounds of Reggae from Jamaica, Caribbean, Brazil, France, UK and South America will provide an unforgettable experience. The event will highlight Rasta artwork by Ras Kassa, and music by Higher Conscious Band with special guest singers, and DJ Kooyahgua on the turntable. Guests receive complimentary Starbucks coffee and light hors d'oeuvres. Art After Dark with Starbucks is held the third Friday of each month from 8 - 11 p.m. Admission is $10 per person, and free for museum members. The event is held at the museum's interim location at 2306 N. Howard Avenue in Tampa, and is sponsored by the St. Petersburg Times and tbt*Tampa Bay Times. For more information, call 813-274-8130.

Tampa Bay Children’s Chorus Auditions
Sat., Aug. 16, 1-4 p.m. and Mon., Aug. 18, 6-8 p.m.

The Tampa Bay Children's Chorus is holding auditions for their 2008-2009 season. The Chorus is for children in 3rd through 12th grades. Children of any singing ability are welcome to audition. This summer, the chorus toured to Carnegie Hall to participate in John Rutter's Mass for the Choral. Due to public demand, the following additional audition dates and locations have been established: August 16 1-4pm at Patel Conservatory for all age groups and August 18th 6-8pm at St. Catherine's Church in Temple Terrace for all age groups. Please visit www.tbcchorus.org to sign up for an audition or call 813-977-5558. Be sure to call early before all the audition spots are taken! Please join us as we celebrate our 20th year of 'Helping Children Make Beautiful Music'.

Wearable Art 4
Sat., Aug. 16, pre-party 7:30 p.m., runway show 9 p.m.

By the 4th year of many successful events, the organizers are starting to coast a little bit… resting on their laurels.  Not so with the Dunedin Fine Art Center’s incredibly successful Wearable ART Fashion Show, now in its 4th year. It continues that tradition bringing back Ben Chmura, Rogerio Martins, Katy Long and perennial crowd pleaser Frank Strunk III with new and exciting work. Tickets this year are $15 general admission, with reserved seating going for $35 or $50. If past years are any indication, you’ll want to score your tickets early, while they’re still available. For more info visit www.dfac.org, call 727-298-3322, or email kaya@dfac.org.

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Special thanks to this week’s BUZZ volunteers:
Editor: Megan Voeller
Creative Contributors: Donna Manion and Deanne Roberts.
Design and Distribution: Sean Kelly