Those who pass by the Ackerman conference rooms every Thursday night might be wondering why people are walking around with guitars and from where the sound of amps and rock tunes are coming. Read more...

Just the other day, I was whiling away my evening like any normal college student, watching Animal Planet instead of studying. The particular program I had the pleasure of viewing on this occasion was titled “Ultimate Zoos.” It made sure to deliver on its promise, presenting some zoos that were indeed rather ultimate, including one of the world’s largest hippo aquariums and the Arctic Ring of Life polar bear exhibit in Detroit. Read more...

Cellist Maya Beiser prefers not to have an orchestra or even a piano back her up during her solo performances because she’d rather do the solo lines, vocals and accompaniments herself. Read more...

Everyone has different visions of the afterlife: what God looks like, if Hell is the flaming pit of despair many believe it to be, or whether such things even exist. Read more...

It’s 1:30 on a Friday afternoon and the city is buzzing outside on Wilshire Boulevard. While people everywhere are rushing to finish their work weeks, those inside the UCLA Hammer Museum are bustling as if the work week has just begun. Read more...

For many, music can be the ultimate therapist. But not many bands go beyond the headphones and offer self-help on the Internet to random strangers with problems ranging from unfaithful spouses to disrespectful uncles. Read more...

Letters of rejection are never easy to take. In 1995, however, three independent filmmakers never received their Sundance rejection letters. Unsure about their status in the prestigious film festival, they booked hotels in Park City, Utah, and when they were finally notified of their rejection, they decided to create their own film festival and to “slam” Sundance. Read more...