THIS superb fairy-wren might look angry but the truth is he’s probably in love. The male wren’s plumage has burst into a vibrant blue with the arrival of spring and he shows those fea

In recent years, I’ve noticed people no longer encourage little children to read, or read to them, the classic fairy tales we olders grew up on. They object to these tales because of the treatment of kids —  how Cinderella was treated by her stepsisters, the cruelty of sending Hansel and Gretel into the woods, to say nothing of Little Red Riding Hood, who’s nearly eaten by a wolf disguised as a ...

Last weekend’s Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival had a little something for everyone. Above, the Blue Fairy spread her wings to sing and play the guitar for a group of kids in the festival’s Children’s Grove. See page 10 for more photos. Photo by Hans Roenau

Programs loans used dresses to girls for formal occasions. From the left, Cierra Kuhl, age 14, of Reading Township, Andrea Smeltzer, Jane Peterson, age 14, of Reading Township and Abby Snyder, age 16, of Jackson Township try on gowns in front of a mirror in Andrea Smeltzer's basement.

hgavan@beloitdailynews.com

Disney has been buying a lot of companies lately, but Imax isn't one of them. A fake press release went out this morning claiming that Disney was buying the large-screen movie theater chain for $1.5 billion. That price would have represented a rich 9...

"Declan would like to take you up to the castle now," said Cecilia, my waitress, one blindingly clear Irish morning as I plopped down for breakfast in the dining hall at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel.

Freeverse has released two new apps for the iPhone and iPod touch, Eye Glasses and Fairy Trails. Eye Glasses is designed to work with the iPhone 3G or 3GS, and turns the mobile device into a magnifying glass. The app uses the iPhoneís auto-focusing camera to display text or imagery in 2x, 4x, 6x, or 8x magnification. In order to use the feature simple activate the app while holding the mobile ...

Some movies appeal to just about everybody -- like the heart-stoppingly entertaining and wonderful 1939 musical that MGM made out of L. Frank Baum's American fairy tale, The Wizard of Oz, now released in a deluxe 70th anniversary DVD edition by Warner.

Programs loans used dresses to girls for formal occasions. From the left, Cierra Kuhl, age 14, of Reading Township, Andrea Smeltzer, Jane Peterson, age 14, of Reading Township and Abby Snyder, age 16, of Jackson Township try on gowns in front of a mirror in Andrea Smeltzer's basement.