The Damah Film Festival, usually based in Seattle and L.A. debuted in the Japanese city of Hiroshima today with an all-star lineup of short films including past winners of the U.S. festival, current nominees from Asian countries and a special showing of The Least of These, a thriller executive produced...

As President Obama arrives in Tokyo, he finds himself, strangely enough, at the epicenter of the latest in the war of words between Christianity and Islam as a result of one of Japan's most powerful and influential politicians having just denounced Christianity as being "self-righteous" and praising Islam as...

For years liberals and conservatives have argued back and forth about a press biased against their side. President Obama is now leading a crusade against conservative talk radio and Fox News, while for years, at least since Richard Nixon's presidency, conservatives complained about biased coverage by the mainstream media.

I...

It was 1983 and Japan's most influential and widely read rock critic Masa Itoh was looking for something new in the genre he presided over, heavy metal. One day Itoh heard about a rock band called Stryper and flew to L.A. to catch a show. Itoh is a connoisseur of...

Brian Bird has been working in Hollywood for two decades now as a writer and producer. For many years he wrote and produced the CBS show Touched By An Angel. Before that he worked on a number of shows like Fantasy Island, Step By Step, Evening Shade and others....

Obviously aware of the likely objections of millions of her middle-class-suburban-housewife viewers, the other day Oprah very carefully introduced her guest Jay-Z by saying: "Whatever your thoughts are about rap or Jay-Z, after this show, I'm sure you'll agree: he is unquestionably impressive and really, really, really, such a sweet...

For many of us who were alive in the '80's he will forever be the guy with the monotone voice calling out "Bueller....Bueller.....," but Ben Stein is of course much more than just the character he played in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Over the years he's been an economist, author,...

Although it's not fair to only pick on Ashton Kutcher since hundreds of celebs have said the same thing, here goes: In a recent interview, the actor was asked if jealousy ever arose on either his or Demi Moore's part over love scenes they have starred in.

Kutcher's response?

After a weekend of exclusive screenings of unreleased films (The Least Of These,) starring Isaiah Washington and Robert Loggia and controversial documentaries (Lord, Save Us From Your Followers), the Damah Film Festival wrapped up with an awards presentation that presented the top prizes to three films:

In 2001 a handful of us met in a boardroom and came up with the idea of hosting a film festival. Eventually we came up with some funding and a name: Damah, which means "a transforming metaphor," and put the word out that we were looking for short films that...

Attn: Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu
From: The American People
Re: Iran

Dear Bibi,

Do what you need to do.

Sincerely,

America

For some time now it's been conventional wisdom that Barbara Boxer was in deep trouble in her race to keep her Senate seat and that Carly Fiorina had the best shot at taking her out. A new poll is casting serious doubt on the second part of that equation.

On Monday night I'll be hosting a screening of the film Lord Save Us From Your Followers in L.A. and moderating a panel discussion afterwards. Written, directed and produced by Emmy-award-winning filmmaker Dan Merchant, the film was described by USA Today as "Monty Python meets Michael Moore: A humorous...

One of the classiest rock stars on the planet, Kerry Livgren, founding member, keyboardist and chief songwriter of the super group Kansas, suffered a massive stroke yesterday but has recovered somewhat today, according to various press reports.

Like many Kansas fans I admired the band from afar, and was...

Night after night Chris Matthews keeps raising race as the reason President Obama is encountering so much opposition to his proposals to reform health insurance and the primary motivating factor behind the Birthers, the conspiracy buffs who think the President was born somewhere other than Hawaii. Matthews is wrong and...

For years Bill Lobdell covered religion for the Los Angeles Times and, sadly, if his experience is any guide, spending too much time poking around the underbelly of American religion can be lethal to one's faith. According to Bill, he saw too much and could no longer handle belief in...

When we released Molly Jenson's debut album, "Maybe Tomorrow," in March, one of the first things we did was get her on the road, opening for a new act named Fiction Family, comprised of Jon Foreman of the rock band Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of the bluegrass band...

The only thing weirder than the Birthers are the anti-Birthers, who blame the Birthers for being conspiracy theorists yet actively feed the conspiracy by refusing to call for President Obama to release his birth certificate.

The state official in Hawaii who manages such things has reiterated that...

So, President Obama wants the Prof and the Cop to come to the White House, have a beer and make nice? Not so fast. One of the two is lying and there's only one way to find out who's telling the truth and who's not: go to the tape.

Henry...

Everyday I drive home from work, walk in the door and ask my four kids under the age of 8 "guess what time it is?" to which they groan in near unison Hardball with Chris Matthews. It's always fun to watch a guy who enjoys his job and Matthews clearly...