Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• Shakespeare's grave is getting a makeover, but the Bard's own words are making the process a little more difficult. Architects are contemplating fixing up the flaking stones that cover William Shakespeare's grave site in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, the poet's hometown. Shakespeare himself is widely thought to have penned the threat on the stone marker above his final resting place: Blest be the man that spares these stones. And curst be he that moves my bones." While that's all well and good, the church has been in use for over four centuries and the foot traffic is starting to take its toll. The plan is to complete the repairs without disturbing the poet's resting place, but that could be tricky. The restoration is part of a bigger project to restore the church to its former glory. Go here for more info.

• In 2003, Gallup Polls released a report that while nearly 49 percent said they believe the Bible has authority in their lives, only 28 percent regularly read it to find direction for their lives. To help close that gap, George Gallup, Jr. has agreed to serve as the honorary chairman of the Children's International Arts Festival. The festival is a global affair that encourages children to answer Bible questions and illustrate them for online publication and prizes. Children ages 5-12 can submit artwork until March 31, 2009, and there is no entry fee. So talk to your little brothers and sisters about it! Find out more here.

• RollingStone.com released its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs this week. Topping the list is Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode.” Jimi Hendrix (predictably) makes an appearance on the list, and other noteworthy guitar riff picks include The Kinks "You Really Got Me," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by the Beatles, and "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2.

• Want a free download of downhere's latest CD, Wide Eyed and Mystified? Well, ec knows where you can get it. Centricity Music has teamed up with MusiChristian.com and are using the site to introduce as many people as possible to downhere by offering the free download starting June 1. The Canadian band just finished a spring tour and are already at work on their next album, Ending Is Beginning, slated to drop on September 23, 2008.