Saturday, December 31, 2011

Chapter 02 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Chapter 2: The Council with the Munchkins. Classic Literature VideoBook with synchronized text, interactive transcript, and closed captions in multiple languages. Audio courtesy of Librivox. Read by J. Hall. Playlist for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum: www.youtube.com

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

5 Famous Doggie Stars of All Time

!±8± 5 Famous Doggie Stars of All Time

Ever since the film industry boomed in the early 1900's, people have been featuring our beloved canines in the silver. They have touched our hearts in so many ways. With their amazing skills and human like reactions, they have changed the way on how we look at our pets. They weren't just pets anymore, they came a part of the family. Dogs have been a stable entity in the Hollywood scene next to humans, of course. Doggie stars that have been featured in major motion films have been an epitome of the perfect dog; obedient, caring, loving, heroic, brave, clean, behave, etc. Even after their death, the public still longs for their movie so much that their "stage names" are carried over by their own offspring to continue the legacy.

1. Rin Tin-Tin

He is Hollywood's most famous dog during its earlier days. This famous pooch came from Corporal Lee Duncan, who was a soldier during World War I. He named after the French puppet, Rintintin, as a token of good luck to the American forces.

The famous hound made approximately 26 motion pictures with Warner Brothers. During his time, Rin Tin Tin captured the heart of movie goers and he became phenomenal. Every week he would receive 10,000, lucky somebody who can't read. At the peak of his stardom, Rin Tin Tin received the honor of having is own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rin Tin Tin died in 1932, with Duncan making arrangements that his famous pet be buried in a pet cemetery in Paris.

2. Lassie

There is no one on earth who probably doesn't know who Lassie is. This famous hound paved the way to other doggie stars who followed her. She was the epitome of the perfect dog. Every pet owner in the planet wanted to have a dog just like her.

She started off a stunt dog. Luckily, the original dog she doubled for didn't want to swim across a river, Lassie jumped right in and took the entire spot light from that dog. From there on, she went on making feature film after film after film after film. During the Mid-1900's, she became a household name, beloved by children and dog lover all over the world. With her remarkable stunts, heart melting scenes, and funny antics, Lassie isn't somebody hard to love.

3. Petey

This remarkable pup abolished the perception, or at least gave the public a new point of view, that American Pit Bull Terriers are wild beasts. Who could forget the little hound tailing along a cute gang of kids in the Little Rascals. He appeared in various films during his time and became famous.

Unfortunately, during the peak of his career, he was never acknowledged other doggie stars. He never got a star on the Walk of Fame nor hailed as the biggest canine star of his age, but sure enough he is remembered by everyone who could recall of him.

There are many conspiracies to his death. One report says he was poisoned, another version says he died of old age. No one knew were he laid to rest, but one thing's for sure his sons and grand-sons continued his legacy.

4. Toto

This cute Black Cairn Terrier starred opposite Judy Garland in the famous The Wizard of Oz. Although this female cutie didn't first appear on that movie. She had done various films before and has captured the hearts of movie enthusiast ever since.

Overall, the starred in 14 movies. She became Hollywood's little darling during her time. She would wage more that any other doggie stars did, sometimes even more than her human co-stars. Although this prima doggie star didn't pass her precious to her descendants, she did however, paved the way for small dogs to shine in the silver screen.

5. Beethoven

St. Bernards have been a rage during Beethoven's time. This famous dog ruled the 1990's with the series of Beethoven movies. American households went gaga over this pooch. But the thing is Beethoven is made up of several dogs. Over 3 to 4 St. Bernard dog claimed the name Beethoven in the film. Although it was Cris who first got the name and starred in the first two films. From that moment on, home and pet owners are again reminded how it is to take care and love their pets at the same time.


5 Famous Doggie Stars of All Time

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Friday, December 2, 2011

A List of 26 of the Scariest Movies Ever Made

!±8± A List of 26 of the Scariest Movies Ever Made

It takes a lot these days for a horror movie to scare me, which is so surprising to me because horror movies used to scare the crap out of me when I was younger. I don't know why I loved horror movies SO much when I was a child, because I had a really hard time sleeping in the dark after the scary movies were over.

Every weekend my two best friends and I would rent one of the Halloweens or Friday the 13th movies, pop some popcorn, turn off the lights, cuddle under a blanket and turn it on. My spot was always in the middle of the girls and everyone HAD to stay awake so I was sure not to be watching such a scary movie alone. Then afterwards, I would be scared for days from these movies that I subjected myself to.

However, lately, I find it really hard to find a movie that has been able to actually scare me. I guess since I have grown up and matured I have realized that the things I was most scared of in these movies is much less likely to happen to me in real life. Just enjoy the scare and then move on. I guess it is the movies that are about true events that really give me a chill. Due to the fact that there aren't very many scary movies out there today that are truly scary, I have decided to provide you with a list of the movies that I think are the scariest ones on the market. These are movies that really and truly scare the crap out of me:

1. The First Friday the Thirteenth (this is the only one that was really and truly frightening).

2. The Exorcist (an oldie but a goodie, my boyfriend won't even watch this one because it scarred him so horribly as a child)

3. House of 1000's Corpses

4. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (The Old One)

5. All of the SAW movies.

6. Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (TERRIFYING!).

7. The Candyman Movies.

8. The Amityville Horror (the new one).

9. Alien (I know, not really a "horror" movie, but REALLY SCARY!)

10. The New Halloween Movie by Rob Zombie

11. Hostel (this movie scared the crap out of me, don't watch it before any trip abroad! Just a warning).

12. Arachnophobia (Spiders taking over, yeah that's scary!)

13. Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows (Blaire Witch Project 1 has got nothing on this movie!)

14. Mimic

15. The Shining

16. Thirteen Ghosts

17. Pet Cemetery

18. The Fly (Just Sick and Wrong)

19. Seven

20. Silence of the Lambs

21. 28 Days Later

22. The Descent

23. The Skeleton Key

24. Turistas

25. Quarantine (this one is REALLY SCARY!)

26. Dawn of the Dead (Warning: VERY GORY)

Well, that's all the scary movies I can think of at the moment. But if you are looking for movies that will really scare the crap out of you here is a good list to get you started. This list is not in any kind of order of scariness, ALL of these films are for the most part equally scary. Just know that I have warned you that these movies are extremely scary so watch them with caution.


A List of 26 of the Scariest Movies Ever Made

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Interview With Jill Vanderwood, Author of "Through the Rug"

!±8± Interview With Jill Vanderwood, Author of "Through the Rug"

Jill Ammon Vanderwood was born and raised in the state of Oregon; she now makes her home in Utah, with her husband, Bill. Jill enjoys spending time with her family, going to movies, and camping. Her hobbies include quilting, reading mysteries, eating chocolate, and traveling. Growing up, she enjoyed reading books about children going on magical adventures. Her favorite author was Edward Eager. "Through the Rug" is the author's first children's book.

Tyler: Thank you, Jill, for joining us today. To begin, would you tell us a little bit about the plot of "Through the Rug"?

Jill: Thank you Tyler and Brianne. First, I would like to thank Brianne for her great book review. I always enjoy sharing my story with kids. Of course, they have the best imaginations.

"Through the Rug" is a story about Grandma Emma who went to cooking school. She didn't realize that she was actually learning to do magic. She thinks she was given an honorary degree, because of her age.

Her granddaughter, Alyssa, comes to visit for a week. When she discovers that Grandma has changed her black and white dog to pink and green, she is worried. Grandma's dog, Domino, has caught the attention of the dogcatcher.

When Grandma Emma tries a formula for 'more days in a week,' the formula expands making a mess on the kitchen rug. Bending over to cleanup the mess, Grandma and Domino fall through the rug, followed by Alyssa and the dogcatcher.

They find themselves in Wishville, where all wishes are granted. Grandma and Alyssa experience a wedding reception where you can eat as much as you wish, without getting full. They encounter fish that dance, and travel to an island with no way to return to Wishville.

Have you ever seen a grandma riding on a skateboard, or a dog walking around with a small body and long spindly legs? Grandma and Alyssa have many magical mishaps before finally creating the magic of more days in the week.

Brianne: Ms. Vanderwood, where did you get your idea for writing this book?

Jill: One night I had a dream about a rug with green slime. Everyone would jump over the rug so they wouldn't get into the slime. The next day, in a writing class, the teacher asked the class to write a story about a visit to Grandma's house, where the grandma wasn't making cookies. That day I started the story of "Through the Rug." It began as a very short story, but included Wishville and the little man, who pops up and gives advice.

In my first story, Domino pushed Grandma through the rug, but didn't go with them to Wishville. He didn't become an important character until much later.

Alyssa is the name of one of my granddaughters. I started the story when she was eight years old and published it when she was thirteen. I have several other grandchildren waiting for a story of their own. I never intended for "Through the Rug to be a series." More of my grandchildren will show up in the second book.

Brianne: Do you have any good memories of staying at your grandmother's house?

Jill: I remember going with my grandmother into the cellar of her house. We saw an old table and chairs down there, very dusty and cobwebby like you might see in spooky movie. I asked, "Grandma, who lives down here?"

She answered, "Nobody lives down here. Well, maybe some mice."

My imagination began to work and I had dreams of a mice family having dinner on the table with cheese and goblets and all the goodies they scavenged from the house.

Brianne: Ms. Vanderwood, how many children do you have?

Jill: My husband Bill and I have one boy and three girls. We are the grandparents of two grandsons and four granddaughters. You can see a picture of my grandchildren on my Web site, [http://www.throughtherug.com].

Tyler: Did your family contribute to your ideas for the book?

Jill: Sometimes when I need inspiration for my books, I have brain-storming sessions with my grandchildren. I ask questions like: "What talent would you wish for if you could do anything you want?" or "Where would you go if you could travel anywhere you wanted?" The kids call out ideas and I write them down. There is evidence of these brain-storming sessions in "Through the Rug" when Grandma and Alyssa are trying to think of what to do on their special days.

Tyler: Were you inspired by any other children's books, such as "Alice in Wonderland" where Alice goes through the Rabbit Hole to have your characters go through the rug?

Jill: I am always surprised when someone brings up "Alice in Wonderland." The thought of Alice never entered my mind. I really think the only similarity is the part where they fall through the rug.

I was most inspired by books written by Edward Eager, "Half Magic" and "Seven-Day Magic." He wrote about ordinary children going on magical adventures. I wasn't thinking about his books when I wrote mine. But looking back I can see that I was influenced by his books, which I began reading in the fifth grade.

Tyler: Why did you choose for the story to begin at Grandma's house? Since Grandmas are not usually companions in fantasy story adventures, how did you decide to make her a main character?

Jill: I'm glad you asked, Tyler. I thought it would be fun to share a secret adventure, just between the grandma and her granddaughter. After all, her father took her to grandma's house, so he must trust his own mother, right?

I see the grandma character as myself in a lot of ways. The part where grandma went to the store in her slippers and locked her keys in the car was also one of my many mishaps.

Yes, I do many silly things. I look like a normal person, but look out. We really do eat pizza on the roof. My grandson and I are planning a midnight picnic and Easter egg hunt in August.

Tyler: Thanks for being honest, Jill. Writers are supposed to be eccentric after all. Jill, I am always curious in fantasy novels with a series of adventures how the author decides just how many adventures to include. For example, in "Alice in Wonderland," Alice meets many strange characters--why didn't she meet one more or less? Yet, in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" there is a progression to the adventures, each moving the plot along. Are all your adventures in the book connected to one another, one leading to the next, or are the adventures written to provide variety rather than plot development?

Jill: I feel the adventures in the book were written in sequence and to move the plot along. Sometimes one wish causes another. When the characters make wishes, things move fast.

At one point, I thought my book was complete. I sent it to several people to review for me. Everyone said the same thing. "Why do Grandma and Alyssa have to go home now?"

I came to realize that if I were on this adventure, I wouldn't want it to end. I wanted to make the book like a ride at Disneyland, just long enough to make you feel satisfied, but not so long that the reader gets bored. For more adventures, you will just have to wait for my next book.

Brianne: Did you always want to be a writer?

Jill: When my children were young I made up songs and poems for them.

I was always writing letters, keeping a journal and writing stories to send to the Readers Digest, but I didn't realize I was a writer.

Brianne: What steps did you take in order to become a published author?

Jill: Since I had been out of school for so long, I needed to learn to write, so I took two creative writing classes. Next, I needed to learn how to use a computer. I had keyboard classes in high school, but I was afraid to even try E-mail.

When I joined the League of Utah Writers, my writing really took off. I found out about different kinds of publishing. This book is published by Authorhouse and my next book will be published by Mill Creek Press; however, they are both considered to be self-published books. If you want to self-publish a book, there are many companies to help you. It is critical to have your work edited before publishing. There would be nothing worse than to have a poorly written or poorly edited book with your name on it. If you choose to self-publish, you will have most of the responsibility for promotion.

Tyler: Jill, it can be difficult to write a book and publish it. What difficulties did you come across and what advice do you have for other people who want to write and publish?

Jill: When I thought I had finished writing my book, I entered it into a contest. Some of the comments I got back were hurtful, rather than encouraging. Besides these comments, I was told that my book needed to be 2/3 longer for the 8-12 age group. I went home and threw the manuscript into a drawer and I was done with it.

Several months later, a friend asked me to be the secretary of my writing group. Writing a monthly article gave me the courage to start writing again. I wasn't sure whether I could do it, but I began rewriting "Through the Rug." It took me one year to finish the book I had been working on for three years. In the end, I had a much better book. I hired my own illustrator to do my pictures and after editing, it was ready to be published.

If you are a writer, don't give up. It is time to fulfill your dreams. You are in a business that requires critique, but criticism is difficult to take. Take the good and helpful remarks and disregard the rest.

Brianne: Do you plan on writing more books? I sure would love to read them.

Jill: I have completed my second book, "Through The Rug 2: Follow That Dog." It is a continuation of "Through The Rug." This book is at the publishers right now. I hope it will be available this fall. I have begun writing my third book in the "Through the Rug" series. I am also working on the first in a new series of magical adventures.

Tyler: Do you think you will always write children's books or do you think you will write books for adults too?

Jill: I have many ideas swimming around in my head. Most of my books will be for children. I do have an idea for a young adult book and an adult book, in the future.

Tyler: What do you think is needed to make an effective children's book?

Jill: I have been told in writing groups that a book for children should either teach a moral lesson, or be educational. There are many good authors who write by these principals.

The main point of my book is to spend as much time as possible with the ones you love, and to enjoy every adventure life brings you.

I think that in a world where there is so much for children to worry about, it is enjoyable to read a book that is just plain fun.

Tyler: Jill, I also understand you want to use your writing to benefit others. Would you tell us a little about your community involvement?

Jill: For my book, "Through the Rug," I held a combined book signing and party to benefit the Literacy Action Center, in 2006. In July 2007 my husband and I took a trip to the Northwest Kiwanis Camp to volunteer for a week with the handicapped children. While we were there, I did a reading from for the campers, and taught "The Fishy Song" from my book.

When my second book, "Follow that Dog," comes out, we are planning a fundraiser for the Wheelchair Foundation. I will have a book party right out of the pages of my book. All proceeds for the party and the sale of books [at the party] will go to provide wheelchairs to children and adults who are in need but cannot afford them. I will post information about this party on my Web site.

Tyler: That's wonderful, Jill. What made you decide to help handicapped children?

Jill: When I was in the eighth grade, I was a junior counselor at a Kiwanis Camp. After that, I became a member of a Kiwanis service club for youth.

A few years ago, I was a reading tutor for the Literacy Action Center. For one year, I tutored a young woman with Cerebral Palsy.

My husband and I are at a place in our lives where our children are grown and we have nearly everything we need. I feel its time to give something back. We found a cause we believe in and jumped in.

Tyler: Jill, before we go, I want to say I was very impressed with your Web site, which goes beyond giving the reader information about your book and is designed to be interactive for children. Would you share with our readers your Web site address and what they might find there?

Jill: I'd love to. My Web address is [http://www.throughtherug.com]. My daughter Karen has been working on my Web site. You will find information about the author, illustrator, and Web mistress. She has an Alyssa doll to dress up, games, puzzles and information about upcoming events. On my home page, Domino and several other dogs are lined up for a dog show; all you need to do is click on one of the dogs, and a page will open up.

Tyler: Brianne, thank you for being my guest host today, and Jill, thank you for joining us today and sharing "Through the Rug" with us. We both wish you lots of success with "Through the Rug" and your future books.


Interview With Jill Vanderwood, Author of "Through the Rug"

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Monday, October 31, 2011

Soul Redemption - Connecting To The Death Of A Friend

!±8± Soul Redemption - Connecting To The Death Of A Friend

In April of 1999 I reluctantly attended the unfurling of the Aids Quilt. Afterwards, thinking I had survived the event, and apparently not aware of the pain remaining, I cheerily said to my driving companion Anasuya, "Let's get some snacks at the local 7-11." Instantly suspicious, knowing my binge eating was at best a furtive event never shared, but having a sweet tooth herself, she quickly opted for discretion and acquiesced. Watching in wonderment as I bought enough Via Venettas, Hagan Das and Dove Bars to feed a family of ten, I quickly assured Anasuya of my plan to share since I had recently read in a magazine it's best to invite a few people to a binge party, accomplishing two things: one you don't eat alone in misery and two you might also make a few friends. While it wasn't a traditional four star binge, I ate more than enough to satisfy both my psychological malaise and appetite. Quickly retiring to my room to sleep, I woke suddenly at three in the morning with two attention-getting matters: one, indigestion and two, the words" soul redemption" clanging in my brain. In wonderment I turned this phrase over in my mind. Soul redemption was not a common phrase in my experience, being of the Jewish and not Jesuitical lineage.

However, in the quiet of the early morning, the memory of my beloved friend Danny, who died of AIDS ten years ago, surfaced. I remembered how angry I was, blaming God for allowing this man whom I felt to be an angel incarnate to suffer a long and lingering death. In retrospect I shut a door inside myself with a sign over the door reading " Don't get close to any more gay guys until AIDS is over." At the time it was thought to be a predominately gay disease. Trusting in reincarnation, I remember as a last minute admonition, stupidly saying to him on his deathbed, "Promise me you won't come back gay," and his face halfway contorted from pain and amusement saying, "Uma, I am coming back gay because I like it." I laughed at my ridiculous request and also at how spunky he was to the end.

My spiritual teacher was there at the presentation of the Quilt and she gestured to me with a thumbs up sign. I quickly understood that she acknowledged by my appearance that I had finally reconciled an old anger and bitterness. But from my stopover at 7-11 it was clear I had not totally consumed the pain. Fear usually catapults me out of my body, not in a mystical or an out of the body experience, but in a way that I become unaware and unconscious. Yet in the midst of that and in the middle of the night I had the unusual experience of feeling that by attending the event, I had not only reconnected with myself but retrieved the piece of self I had lost when Danny died. It was both a feeling of connection and liking of myself.

I also realized that if one doesn't consume pain totally in the moment of trauma, something else will be ingested or consumed that is not good, be it food, alcohol, drugs, or relationships. And addiction becomes an outlaw post where parts of the self or soul remain hidden and disconnected, waiting to be uncovered and retrieved.

Enter the shaman or Hero. The notion of soul retrieval and shamans is big these days. Shamans are people who have confronted their own fears in a big time way, survived them and come back to help us. Apparently, not taking a well-deserved vacation, they are still willing to travel down to Hell or other similar hot places to retrieve somebody else's soul. Some of these shamans present a rather imposing demeanor, with drums, feathers and amulets, and I would imagine few inner children would resist returning to their selves upon coaxing from the shaman. I have my own feelings about somebody else retrieving my soul. God knows most of us have been to hell ourselves and can be our own shamans. Sometimes I think of being the Wizard in an unauthorized version of the Wizard of Oz saying to people," You've been to Hell. Rise and become a shaman." Ultimately, I feel we must become our own heroes and do our own retrieval or redemption.

For me redeeming my soul means being willing to pay any price to escape from the small space my fears, addictions and egos have placed me. Both as child and adult, I loved stories of the Quest, the Hero's Journey, Search for the Holy Grail. Subconsciously it became my journey to connect with what had been lost. Those medieval knights were symbols of a willingness to confront whatever fear or demon stands in our path on the way to retrieving and rescuing that divine light that lies extinguished for a time.

What makes one enter upon a Hero's Journey searching for the original self? It is not painless. but becomes a choice between two pains. One, the pain of leaving what has become a queasily comfortable life and two, the pain and fear of entering a new door of awareness.

What makes one continue? Is it the realization that there is no real stopover or quick abatement of the pain you feel when your best friend dies? I call it the death of illusion, the time when the stopover turns into quicksand and you must search for higher ground before your soul disappears into an abyss and you have to redeem it all over again.

For those of us on the spiritual path, death of illusions comes daily. When I was 17 I read a book by existentialist Albert Camus called The Myth of Sisyphus. Sisyphus stole fire from the Gods and for eternity he was condemned to roll a rock up a hill. As soon as it reached its destination it came hurtling down. At that age, the story mainly confirmed my own idea of life as a repetitive no-point exercise in existential despair and hopelessness.

Now it is interesting that he has again become my hero for different reasons. As I see him now, Sisyphus is not daunted by the fact that he is always pushing the same rock up the same hill. He does not tear his heart out with regrets for his actions nor does he hate his tormentors. Rather I think he accepts himself and his acts. While pushing the rock Sisyphus has chosen to stay aware of the sun on his back, the energy of his muscles, perhaps the singing birds. Even though his efforts appear to be for naught throughout eternity, he chooses to stay alive and aware.

There are some people whom I have read for and had a glimpse into lives so difficult and painful that I am humbled through seeing that their souls and hearts are not only intact but still open. They have refused to bear ill will or enmity towards life or any of the people who have inflicted pain on them. These people have become my guide lights now. Like Sisyphus, they have chosen to stay grateful and alive. If I were to again become the Wizard in my own play, I would confer acknowledgment upon them and say, "Go now in peace; you have redeemed your soul."


Soul Redemption - Connecting To The Death Of A Friend

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