Odyssey

"The Odyssey" is one of the largest epic poems ever written, and Derek Walcott's West Indian-flavored stage version -- making its American premiere at Washington's Arena Stage -- is an appropriately large-scale theatrical event.A cast of 20 plays more than 40 characters and wears 150 costumes. The language in Walcott's three-hour verse marathon ranges from lyrical to irreverent, and there's an original island-inspired score composed by "Hair's" Galt MacDermot.Although Walcott, winner of the 1992 Nobel Prize, adheres to Homer's basic plot, he also makes numerous creative departures.

"Baseball Superstars 2012" Developer: Gamevil Platofrm: iOS/Android (free) Score: 7/10 There's a saying that baseball is a simple game until you try and explain it to someone who has never played it. With major league teams gearing up for the 2012 campaign, I would like to amend that statement to "baseball is a simple game until you try and explain it to someone through a Korean role-playing game. " That is was Gamevil has done with “Baseball Superstars 2012,” the latest iteration in the popular mobile series.

TOMORROW, SEVEN local middle school girls will compete at the World Competition for Odyssey of the Mind in Boulder, Colo. Their appearance is evidence of their dogged persistence and desire to be part of the international creative-thinking competition. Since they began in September, they have beat the odds to reach the top. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program for students, kindergarten through college. Working in teams, the students develop unique solutions to problems.

For years, the stranger who raped her in her Annapolis bedroom maintained a hold over her. If it wasn't her self-imposed isolation from friends, it was the nightmares, or the difficulty of keeping up the facade that she was fine, or the drinking, or the self-blame. But that's all changed, said Jennifer Wheatley-Wolf, who said she hopes her newly published book, "One Voice Raised — A Triumph Over Rape," will help other women who have been devastated by sexual assault reclaim their lives.

It's always nice to acknowledge young people for their educational efforts, especially academic endeavors that go above and beyond the normal school day and nightly regimen of required studies.Here's an example of seven students from Sandymount Elementary School who recently participated in the regional Odyssey of the Mind competition in Hagerstown.Odyssey of the Mind competitions are sponsored by the OM Association Inc., a nonprofit national organization. Competitions challenge student teams to work together and develop self-confidence by creating solutions and evaluating ideas that lead to a decision.

Thousands of students from elementary school to college age are competing in an Olympiad of sorts this week at the University of Maryland College Park campus.Their sport is mental gymnastics; the event is the world finals of Odyssey of the Mind -- a 20-year-old educational program that challenges participants to solve difficult problems creatively.About 750 student teams from 16 countries and all 50 states began vying yesterday for coveted trophies and medals for such accomplishments as making the best android, strongest structure or top model car design.

New York -- His career on the brink of oblivion, Terence Morris took the first steps toward basketball revival in Jerusalem last winter. The University of Maryland product, who helped the Terrapins reach the Final Four for the first time in 2001, bounced around the NBA and the NBA Development League and competed for a team in Greece over the past five years, playing sparingly. In December 2006, his agent, Mike Kneisley of Washington-based The Neustadt Group, worked out a deal with Hapoel Jerusalem, a well-regarded Israeli club that was looking for a power forward for the remainder of the season.

CHERNYAKHOVSK, Russia - Junior Sgt. Yevgeny Selemenev has the same peach-fuzz and cream face of youth he wore when he was swept into the feared Russian army at the height of the civil war in Chechnya.But the fear and bitterness that hardened the face of a kid who couldn't afford to buy his way out of the feared army draft has melted.Four months shy of his discharge, Selemenev is flush with optimism. He has survived the nightmare of every able-bodied Russian teen - service in a broke and chaotic army notorious for starvation, hazing and corruption.

They've boxed up their scenery. Shipped their props. Created a banner of bobble-headed people with photos of their faces. The only thing left to do for Elmwood Elementary School's Odyssey of the Mind team members is to pack their game faces, brain power and spontaneity as they head to Iowa this week for the 30th World Finals. The Baltimore County team of five fourth-graders is the only elementary-school group representing Maryland in the international competition, which pushes students to channel their creativity into problem-solving activities.

COLLEGE PARK - The fans came from 14 countries and more than 30 states yesterday to cheer their favorite teams. They took over the University of Maryland's glitzy Comcast Center - but there would be no free throws or three-point shots on this day. This was a sport of a different sort. At the 25th Odyssey of the Mind World Finals this holiday weekend, 765 teams of elementary- through college-age competitors flexed their intellectual and creative muscles, hoping to take home a championship trophy from the Super Bowl of all brain games.

The mystery of Ricky Williams turned out not to be a mystery at all. World traveler, former Heisman Trophy winner and onetime NFL rushing champion, the Ravens' newest running back was anything but enigmatic Tuesday in his first meeting with the press. He was insightful, reflective and engaging, seemingly content with life. In an 8-minute interview conducted under a tent top in the middle of a downpour, Williams acknowledged past indiscretions but avowed few regrets. He said he was still a rebel at heart, but one who had learned to channel the rebelliousness.

What's it like to live in a design laboratory? Local furniture craftsman David Wiesand knows. He created one at his Mount Vernon home, spending years renovating the historic property and trying out a variety of decor and styles. The finished space — he continues to tweak — is featured in the Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage that begins Sunday in the downtown Baltimore neighborhood. Now in its 74th year, the tour features more than 50 houses, gardens, farms, churches and historic sites throughout Maryland, with proceeds going to support a variety of preservation projects.

It's been revealed that the Obama administration named its war against Libya -- Operation Odyssey Dawn -- after a little-known album by English progressive rock band Yes.  But what hasn't been revealed are the names of other album titles seriously considered by Obama's inner circle during the build-up to the attack. Through our well-placed sources at the White House, we present to you the Top 10 Rejected "Operation Odyssey Dawn" Names.  Here we go:  10. C-Murder,  Operation The Truest S--- I Ever Said Why it was considered:  It sounded hard-core.

There were inscriptions written above the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at the Oracle of Delphi, and the two most famous ones were cautionary words of wisdom: "Know thyself" and "Nothing too much." Those bits of ancient advice are worth considering as two Hollywood studios hope to launch film franchises that use Greek mythology as the unlikely premise for popcorn entertainment. "These are the stories that began storytelling in many ways," director Louis Leterrier said a few months ago on the London set of his "Clash of the Titans," the Warner Bros.

Zorb a the Greek was the rare movie that proclaimed it was about the life force and managed to embody it anyway, reviving the spirits of audiences in 1964 and maybe for all time. So it's depressing to see it reduced to a touchstone for a measly little picture called M y Life in Ruins. This cute title rests on top of a sappy scenario about a Greek-American scholar named Georgia (Nia Vardalos) who loses her university job in Athens but finds her soul or spirit or chi or mojo - or, as the Greeks say, her kefi - while working as a guide for a seat-of-the-pants touring company.

They've boxed up their scenery. Shipped their props. Created a banner of bobble-headed people with photos of their faces. The only thing left to do for Elmwood Elementary School's Odyssey of the Mind team members is to pack their game faces, brain power and spontaneity as they head to Iowa this week for the 30th World Finals. The Baltimore County team of five fourth-graders is the only elementary-school group representing Maryland in the international competition, which pushes students to channel their creativity into problem-solving activities.

On a narrow road off Aberdeen's main drag just past a tiny Chinese takeout place and a U.S. Army recruiting station is an unobtrusive hair salon.Inside yesterday, it was weekend business as usual at the Odyssey salon at 29 N. Parke St., with customers packing the place for manicures, makeovers and new hairdos. But in a room tucked away in a corner, owner Heidi Zuchelkowski, armed with a huge can of hair spray and a sturdy-looking steel brush, fussed over a special customer.She was a petite redhead dressed in a black velvet mock turtleneck and pants with a spritely smile and a crisp voice you know you've heard somewhere.

Gods, who can figure 'em?Just when you think you're finally on their good side, because they gave you and your lovely wife a beautiful baby boy, a ship sails into the harbor with the horrible news that your alliance of city-states is at war and you've been drafted to lead the troops.So, what can a king do except kiss the kid and the missus goodbye, make a quick sheep's-head sacrifice to Athena, the goddess with the great eyes, and set sail for Troy?"I am Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and this is my story," the portentous voice-over says as the ships become tiny specks on the back of mighty Poseidon.

The other evening, I was rereading a signed copy of Hamilton Owens' book, Baltimore on the Chesapeake, which he presented to The Sun library in 1941. There is no inscription save a quick "Hamilton Owens" written in black ink in a tight script on the book's flyleaf. I last looked at the book, a whimsical popular history of the city published by Doubleday, Doran & Co. Inc., probably 30 years ago. What prompted me to pick it up again was the death of Hamilton Owens' son, Gwinn F. Owens, at 87, on March 22. Gwinn, who had been a longtime reporter and editor, was the first op-ed page editor of The Evening Sun's "Other Voices" page when it was unveiled in 1979.

I've always thought that the first and most perfect film noir was created by a guy named Homer. (And, no, children, I'm not referring to the animated cartoon star of The Simpsons, but to the ancient Greek poet.) There's a middle-aged guy on a boat who has fallen on hard times, but still is crafty like a fox. He's adrift at sea and utterly lost, but he won't ask for directions. During his adventures, he runs afoul of thugs and man-eating femme fatales.