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seen & heard - 2

The best things in life are FREE (or they should be)

The common phrase ‘the best things in life are free’ doesn’t always resonate – especially when you are living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. Everywhere you look there are things, eats, people – all begging for your pence (or penny). What is amazing to me, in such a city as London, is that some of the most priceless things you will ever see are, in fact, free. Ok, so you can’t take them home, but you can look at famous art, artifacts, pieces, collections – all for free. Thanks to public financing, admission to all nationally-run museums in London is free to the general public. If only the rest of the world could be as artistically (and financially) progressive and supportive. While in New York City, for example, museums are not free on a daily basis, most do have free days or hours for those of us who are starving artists starving for art. Below is a compilation of some of the world’s most famous art museums and their free days and times. Happy free-loading.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA – no free days or times but admission is by ‘suggested donation’ which is $20 but you are allowed to pay-what-you-can. Museum of Modern Art, New York City, USA – Free admission on Fridays from 4 – 8 pm. Whitney Museum of Art, New York City, USA – ‘Pay what you wish’ on Fridays from 6 – 9 pm. The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia - Free admission the first Thursday of every month The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, USA – Free admission Thursdays from 5 – 8 pm British Museum, London, UK – Free all day, everyday The Tate Museum, London, UK – Free all day, everyday Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA – Admission is by voluntary contribution Wednesdays after 4 pm. Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy – Free admission the last Sunday of every month Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain – Free admission on the following dates every year: May 2 (Official Holiday for the Region of Madrid); May 18 (International Museum Day); October 12 (National Holiday); November 19 (Anniversary of the Museo Nacional del Prado); December 6 (Constitution Day) The Smithsonian , Washington, D.C., USA – Free all day, everyday Centre Pompidou, Paris, France – Free admission the first Sunday of every month The Louvre, Paris, France – Free admission the first Sunday of every month and on July 14

Rage, rage against the dying of the light. -Dylan Thomas

Patrick Swayze (August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) We have lost a great member of the entertainment community. He gave us so many iconic moments - one of which is that indelible last scene in our favorite, Dirty Dancing.

Here's a look back at the evolution of this gifted and passionate performer. Rest in peace Patrick.

OWOA member Extended Vision is having an exhibition/performance for the Melbourne Fringe Festival in Australia. September 28 - October 10 There will be 3 NEA performances during the exhibition, also a busking style performance out the front of our State Gallery. They will also be interviewed live on local breakfast radio & T.V. to promote our show and the Festival.

Dear Hollywood: These Things Do Not Make A Character Quirky Anymore NPR Article by Linda Homes

You have to really be courageous about your instincts and your ideas. Otherwise you'll just knuckle under, and things that might have been memorable will be lost. - Francis Ford Coppola

Kinofilm is now accepting applications to its European Short Film Festival in 2010 The 11th edition of the KINOFILM Festival will take place in Manchester from 23rd - 28th February 2010, as a European Short Film Festival and invites submissions from all over Europe including former Eastern Europe and Baltic States. Though the 2010 festival focuses on Europe there will be a limited number of entries considered from non-European countries for award-winning films or for those of outstanding merit, for a special International showcase. Submissions are open from 1st July closing on 10th September. To submit a film please email the Festival for the festival rules, regulations and procedures and application form: info@kinofilm.com Kinofilm 11th edition, European Short Film Festival, Manchester, 23rd - 28th Feb 2010 More Info HERE

European Independent Film Festival 2010 Call For Entries Early Deadline: December 14, 2009 Late Deadline: January 4, 2010 The European Independent Film Festival -- Europe's foremost festival for independent filmmakers -- is currently accepting submissions for its 2010 edition. The early deadline for submissions is December 14, 2009 and the late deadline is January 4, 2010. A Withoutabox extended deadline is available through January 14th 2010. Independent filmmakers are invited to submit their films at www.ecufilmfestival.com. On the final day of the festival all Perfect Pitch participants have the opportunity to pitch to a live panel of industry professionals. We don't guarantee a deal, but we do guarantee a solid amount of face time to get the ball rolling. For those of you eager to get started with those pitches, registration is now open at www.ecufilmfestival.com.

'Cause this is Thriller....London style. This weekend Londoners will attempt to break the current world record of 1500 people dancing Thriller at one time, in one place. Saturday, August 29th in Trafalgar Square, London. Here's at look at the current world record holders from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines.

The arts are an even better barometer of what is happening in our world than the stock market or the debates in congress. - Hendrik Willem Van Loon

Eight year old pianist Marc Yu. Adorable and impressive.

YouTube presents the Sundance Institute Directors Lab Series. Watch the whole series on YouTube until Aug 31 at www.youtube.com/ytscreeningroom

Ah, procrastination. Who of us doesn't occasionally put off what we need to do today for tomorrow? Fortunately, most of us are able to keep it under control, but twenty-five percent of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators. Psychologists say this condition not only involves avoidance of certain tasks, but a conscious or subconscious self-sabotage by choosing activities that hinder performance.

Two experts on the subject give us a glimpse into the how's and why's of it:

Procrastination: Ten Things To Know Psychology Today

If you find yourself getting stuck in the vicious cycle of "i'll get to it later", you might want to try and implement this little trick. It's called the ten-minute rule, and from what we've heard, it seems to work.

10 Minute Rule 'Acknowledge, "I don't feel like doing that," but do it for 10 minutes anyway. That gets you over the hard work of initiation. After being involved in the activity for 10 minutes, then decide whether to continue. Once you're involved, it's easier to stay with a task. Succeeding at a task does not require that you like doing it.' - Gina Trapani

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