Cool Concept: Magic Lanterns

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I've had magic lanterns (invented in the 1600s) on my links page of my personal site for a while now. But the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin is hosting an event on the subject. I'll be there. Here's the excerpt of the email notification:

Jack Judson brings alive the world of the magic lantern, a form of animated optical projection used to educate and delight audiences for centuries, in his talk “Magic Lanterns: Father of the Motion Picture and Grandfather of Television” on Tuesday, July 17, at 7 p.m. at the Harry Ransom Center.

Judson, owner of the Magic Lantern Castle in San Antonio, discusses the history of magic lanterns, which date back to the 1600s, and how they contributed to the development of cinema. He’ll project slides using his own restored magic lantern to illustrate his talk.

Seating is free, but limited.

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20 cancer patients participated in a unique makeover experience. They were invited to a studio. Their hair and makeup were completely redone. During the transformation, they were asked to keep their eyes shut. A photographer then immortalized the moment they opened their eyes. This discovery allowed them to forget their illness, IF ONLY FOR A SECOND. "Within a second, smiling faces were seen all over the room. At that very moment, cancer did not exist for the family members either." You can order the book and learn more about the campaign, launched today, at the  "If Only for a Second" website .
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