Adapted from humorist Jean Shepherd's hilarious memoir In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, A Christmas Story has climbed the ranks of the annual holiday classic films list to claim its spot among the hallowed elite of the genre. If you’ve ever tried to lick a frozen telephone pole, or found yourself in a ridiculous bunny outfit on Christmas morning, then A Christmas Story is one comedy you won’t want to miss…
A Christmas Story focuses on one central character, fifth grader Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his all-encompassing quest to receive a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB rifle for Christmas, although I don’t think he realizes he could put an eye out with one of those things… Thwarting Ralphie at every turn are his mother (Melinda Dillon) and father (Darren McGavin) who seem absolutely oblivious to their young son’s dream.
Unable to come right out and say what he wants, Ralphie drops subtle hints around the house such as placing clipped-out magazine ads for the gun in his parents’ nightstand reading material. When prodded for his true Christmas wish, Ralphie blurts out that he wants a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB gun, but his mother’s only reply is, “You don’t want one of those. You'll shoot your eye out!”
A Christmas Story is filled with memorable scenes and highlights that have helped built a cult following around the life of a young boy obsessed with Christmas who is surrounded by a varied cast eccentric friends and family members. When Ralphie’s father beams with pride at his ability to win a newspaper contest, his proudly displays his prize in the front window of the family home, a three-foot lamp with a woman’s long, stocking-covered leg as its base. Embarrassed, Ralphie’s mother “accidentally” breaks it, sparking a war of words with her husband. Meanwhile, Ralphie dreams of saving the whole family with his Red-Ryder BB gun, thus earning the family’s undying gratitude.
One of the best sequences in the film involves a family trip to the local department store, where Ralphie and his little brother Randy meet with the store Santa Clause near closing time. Following a long, extended wait to reach the front of the line to see Santa, Ralphie is so brimming with anticipation to tell Santa what he wants that he can’t speak. So, Santa convinces Ralphie that he wants a football. But before Santa’s helper can push Ralphie down the North Pole slide, Ralphie blurts out his true wish, only to hear Santa’s reply, “You’ll shoot your eye out with that, kid!”
One of the best Christmas comedies ever made, although few come close to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story is a memorable holiday classic the entire family can enjoy. Much like It’s A Wonderful Life, the film has only grown in popularity in the years since its release. The timeless nature of its subject matter lends itself well to annual holiday viewing, and it remains one of a handful of “must see” films for the Christmas season…
Friday, February 18, 2011
24 (Season 3) DVD Review
Originally aired in late Fall of 2001, 24 immediately built a cult following of dedicated fans and critics, establishing itself as one of the best new television series of the decade. Founding on the interesting premise that each episode should account for one hour in a day, the show follows the exploits of a James Bond-like government agent named Jack Bauer. Kiefer Sutherland stars in the role of Bauer who often grapples with personal problems as well as world-altering crises. At first glance, 24 could easily be confused with a blockbuster Hollywood action thriller, but it’s so much more…
Season 3 begins almost three years after Jack’s successful thwarting of a terrorist conspiracy to nuke Los Angeles. An extremely powerful drug kingpin, Ramon Salazar, has recently been captured and imprisoned due to Jack’s efforts, but the Salazar case is far from over. Ramon’s brother contacts federal authorities and threatens to release a deadly virus on the American public unless his brother is immediately freed. Yet again, Jack is tasked with hunting down the terrorists in a 24 hour timeframe… Will he succeed? Or will innocent people die in mass?
The 24 (Season 3) DVD features a number of breathtaking episodes including the season premiere in which a dead body is tossed just outside of a healthcare facility in Los Angeles. The Counter Terrorism Unit quickly learns that the body is infected with a deadly virus, a blatant signal of blackmail when the unit learns of a threat to release the virus at large unless drug lord Ramon Salazar is let out of prison. Meanwhile, President Palmer is preparing a presidential debate in the company of his brother (also his chief-of-staff) and his doctor (also his girlfriend), and Kim who now works at CTU with Jack has secretly been dating her father’s partner, Chase Edmunds… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include (#53) in which Jack is taken hostage in an inmate riot while trying to break Ramon out of prison, and (#71) in which Jack is on the verge of discovering the location of the deadly vials…
Below is a list of episodes included on the 24 (Season 3) DVD:
Episode 49 (12:00 A.M. – 1:00 A.M.) Air Date: 10-28-2003
Episode 50 (1:00 A.M. – 2:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-04-2003
Episode 51 (2:00 A.M. – 3:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-11-2003
Episode 52 (3:00 A.M. – 4:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-18-2003
Episode 53 (4:00 A.M. – 5:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-25-2003
Episode 54 (5:00 A.M. – 6:00 A.M.) Air Date: 12-02-2003
Episode 55 (6:00 A.M. – 7:00 A.M.) Air Date: 12-09-2003
Episode 56 (7:00 A.M. – 8:00 A.M.) Air Date: 12-16-2003
Episode 57 (8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.) Air Date: 01-06-2004
Episode 58 (9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.) Air Date: 01-13-2004
Episode 59 (10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.) Air Date: 01-27-2004
Episode 60 (11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-03-2004
Episode 61 (12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-10-2004
Episode 62 (1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-17-2004
Episode 63 (2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-24-2004
Episode 64 (3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.) Air Date: 03-30-2004
Episode 65 (4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-06-2004
Episode 66 (5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-18-2004
Episode 67 (6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-20-2004
Episode 68 (7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-27-2004
Episode 69 (8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.) Air Date: 05-04-2004
Episode 70 (9:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.) Air Date: 05-11-2004
Episode 71 (10:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.) Air Date: 05-18-2004
Episode 72 (11:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M.) Air Date: 05-25-2004
Season 3 begins almost three years after Jack’s successful thwarting of a terrorist conspiracy to nuke Los Angeles. An extremely powerful drug kingpin, Ramon Salazar, has recently been captured and imprisoned due to Jack’s efforts, but the Salazar case is far from over. Ramon’s brother contacts federal authorities and threatens to release a deadly virus on the American public unless his brother is immediately freed. Yet again, Jack is tasked with hunting down the terrorists in a 24 hour timeframe… Will he succeed? Or will innocent people die in mass?
The 24 (Season 3) DVD features a number of breathtaking episodes including the season premiere in which a dead body is tossed just outside of a healthcare facility in Los Angeles. The Counter Terrorism Unit quickly learns that the body is infected with a deadly virus, a blatant signal of blackmail when the unit learns of a threat to release the virus at large unless drug lord Ramon Salazar is let out of prison. Meanwhile, President Palmer is preparing a presidential debate in the company of his brother (also his chief-of-staff) and his doctor (also his girlfriend), and Kim who now works at CTU with Jack has secretly been dating her father’s partner, Chase Edmunds… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include (#53) in which Jack is taken hostage in an inmate riot while trying to break Ramon out of prison, and (#71) in which Jack is on the verge of discovering the location of the deadly vials…
Below is a list of episodes included on the 24 (Season 3) DVD:
Episode 49 (12:00 A.M. – 1:00 A.M.) Air Date: 10-28-2003
Episode 50 (1:00 A.M. – 2:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-04-2003
Episode 51 (2:00 A.M. – 3:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-11-2003
Episode 52 (3:00 A.M. – 4:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-18-2003
Episode 53 (4:00 A.M. – 5:00 A.M.) Air Date: 11-25-2003
Episode 54 (5:00 A.M. – 6:00 A.M.) Air Date: 12-02-2003
Episode 55 (6:00 A.M. – 7:00 A.M.) Air Date: 12-09-2003
Episode 56 (7:00 A.M. – 8:00 A.M.) Air Date: 12-16-2003
Episode 57 (8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.) Air Date: 01-06-2004
Episode 58 (9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.) Air Date: 01-13-2004
Episode 59 (10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.) Air Date: 01-27-2004
Episode 60 (11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-03-2004
Episode 61 (12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-10-2004
Episode 62 (1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-17-2004
Episode 63 (2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.) Air Date: 02-24-2004
Episode 64 (3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.) Air Date: 03-30-2004
Episode 65 (4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-06-2004
Episode 66 (5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-18-2004
Episode 67 (6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-20-2004
Episode 68 (7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.) Air Date: 04-27-2004
Episode 69 (8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.) Air Date: 05-04-2004
Episode 70 (9:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.) Air Date: 05-11-2004
Episode 71 (10:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.) Air Date: 05-18-2004
Episode 72 (11:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M.) Air Date: 05-25-2004
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Winning The Family Weight-Loss Game
Is weight weighing heavily on your mind? If you or someone in your family needs to lose weight, you have lots of company: Nearly two-thirds of American adults and a third of American children need to lighten up.
Since the family is one of the most powerful influences on a child's weight and health, a new book from Betty Crocker rallies family members to team up in tackling their weight concerns. "Betty Crocker Win At Weight Loss Cookbook" ($24.95, available where books are sold) maps out a game plan of simple steps that parents can take for improving their own healthy habits while allowing their kids to become more active and "grow into" a healthier weight. Parents are the role model and coach of the family team.
To ensure success for readers, Betty Crocker enlisted the assistance of a leading public health expert for winning strategies in this new book. An internationally respected researcher in weight control, James Hill, Ph.D., lends his best advice from years of counseling clients who have attained and successfully maintained a healthy weight. Hill is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado, and director of the Center for Human Nutrition, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Hill is also co-founder of America on the Move, an initiative to help people avoid weight gain.
The family that plays together enjoys good health and has fun together. In becoming more active and enjoying a wide variety of delicious meals, any family can be "winners" and gain healthy habits for a lifetime. The new book provides realistic steps for any family to take toward better health.
Since the family is one of the most powerful influences on a child's weight and health, a new book from Betty Crocker rallies family members to team up in tackling their weight concerns. "Betty Crocker Win At Weight Loss Cookbook" ($24.95, available where books are sold) maps out a game plan of simple steps that parents can take for improving their own healthy habits while allowing their kids to become more active and "grow into" a healthier weight. Parents are the role model and coach of the family team.
To ensure success for readers, Betty Crocker enlisted the assistance of a leading public health expert for winning strategies in this new book. An internationally respected researcher in weight control, James Hill, Ph.D., lends his best advice from years of counseling clients who have attained and successfully maintained a healthy weight. Hill is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado, and director of the Center for Human Nutrition, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Hill is also co-founder of America on the Move, an initiative to help people avoid weight gain.
The family that plays together enjoys good health and has fun together. In becoming more active and enjoying a wide variety of delicious meals, any family can be "winners" and gain healthy habits for a lifetime. The new book provides realistic steps for any family to take toward better health.
Willa's Poppy - Book Review
Willa’s Poppy is a 166-page young adult, thriller-adventure with a hero-element in a subtle theme of rising above challenges and making a difference in the world. Animal lovers, rescue shelter workers and all readers from 8-18 will adore Poppy’s adventures. Because the author also gives insight into an adult’s life through their feelings and experiences with their careers, this book may serve as a tool to bring understanding and awareness in families.
Willa’s Poppy is about the exciting adventures of a girl and her puppy as they grow to maturity. Willa, a young teenager, struggled in school. Her desires for a bloodhound dog enabled her to earn the pet through better grades. Always a bit of a loner with only one true friend, Willa easily took to training and befriending the rescued puppy. Bonding with her beloved Poppy brings Willa out of her shell where she blooms into a bright flower. The family has subtle difficulties, but the entire family comes together when Poppy locates a missing child and rescues both Willa and her baby brother, from a dangerous criminal.
Author of 5 other books, WWII veteran, farmer and garlic specialist Chester Aaron creates a wonderful, heart-warming story in which the hero is Willa’s dog – Poppy. The only noticeable negative point is the poor quality of the front cover design. Otherwise, I heartily recommend this book.
ISBN#: 1-55410-282-0
Author: Chester Aaron
Publisher: Zumaya Publications
Willa’s Poppy is about the exciting adventures of a girl and her puppy as they grow to maturity. Willa, a young teenager, struggled in school. Her desires for a bloodhound dog enabled her to earn the pet through better grades. Always a bit of a loner with only one true friend, Willa easily took to training and befriending the rescued puppy. Bonding with her beloved Poppy brings Willa out of her shell where she blooms into a bright flower. The family has subtle difficulties, but the entire family comes together when Poppy locates a missing child and rescues both Willa and her baby brother, from a dangerous criminal.
Author of 5 other books, WWII veteran, farmer and garlic specialist Chester Aaron creates a wonderful, heart-warming story in which the hero is Willa’s dog – Poppy. The only noticeable negative point is the poor quality of the front cover design. Otherwise, I heartily recommend this book.
ISBN#: 1-55410-282-0
Author: Chester Aaron
Publisher: Zumaya Publications
Want to Marry Rich? Tips On High-Society Dating
Ladies: Looking to fulfill your champagne wishes and make your caviar dreams a reality? Marry rich.
But don't think of the pursuit of a wealthy man as shallow. According to "How To Marry A Multi-Millionaire: The Ultimate Guide To High Net Worth Dating," by Ted Morgan and Serena Worth, the most common qualities that women desire in a man - charm, humor and intelligence, for instance - can be found in most wealthy men. As the book says, "the cash is a very nice side benefit."
One of the first steps to marrying rich is to get on the "high net worth" dating circuit. The following tips from the book will help you find a rich suitor in no time.
* Prepare. Find out who's rich, where these men live and their past and present entanglements. Chatting with high-society women is a great way to find out who's on the market.
* Go where the rich go. Since many wealthy people find their mates at social events, mingle at high-end cocktail parties and charity benefits in places such as New York City, Southampton, N.Y., Aspen, Colo. and Palm Beach, Fla.
Never buy the dinner ticket, however. Dinner tickets to charity parties can range from $500 to over $1,000. To avoid paying an arm and a leg, buy the after-party ticket instead.
* Find a partner in crime. If you're uncomfortable socializing alone, take a male or female friend along to help you feel more relaxed and to arrange introductions.
* Go in as "arm candy." Attend the party with an attractive date who is looking to find rich women. You two can work the room together and help each other meet potential mates.
"How to Marry A Multi-Millionaire: The Ultimate Guide To High Net Worth Dating" also includes such topics as how to avoid the most common high net worth dating pitfalls and how to negotiate the prenuptial agreement. The book also features a list of the richest single or divorced men in America.
But don't think of the pursuit of a wealthy man as shallow. According to "How To Marry A Multi-Millionaire: The Ultimate Guide To High Net Worth Dating," by Ted Morgan and Serena Worth, the most common qualities that women desire in a man - charm, humor and intelligence, for instance - can be found in most wealthy men. As the book says, "the cash is a very nice side benefit."
One of the first steps to marrying rich is to get on the "high net worth" dating circuit. The following tips from the book will help you find a rich suitor in no time.
* Prepare. Find out who's rich, where these men live and their past and present entanglements. Chatting with high-society women is a great way to find out who's on the market.
* Go where the rich go. Since many wealthy people find their mates at social events, mingle at high-end cocktail parties and charity benefits in places such as New York City, Southampton, N.Y., Aspen, Colo. and Palm Beach, Fla.
Never buy the dinner ticket, however. Dinner tickets to charity parties can range from $500 to over $1,000. To avoid paying an arm and a leg, buy the after-party ticket instead.
* Find a partner in crime. If you're uncomfortable socializing alone, take a male or female friend along to help you feel more relaxed and to arrange introductions.
* Go in as "arm candy." Attend the party with an attractive date who is looking to find rich women. You two can work the room together and help each other meet potential mates.
"How to Marry A Multi-Millionaire: The Ultimate Guide To High Net Worth Dating" also includes such topics as how to avoid the most common high net worth dating pitfalls and how to negotiate the prenuptial agreement. The book also features a list of the richest single or divorced men in America.
Wall Street: the Road Block To Your Investing Success
Worried about your stocks? Blame it on Wall Street.
Investors today face a barrage of conflicting information and exaggerated return claims from what most people consider the "market" -; the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But these indexes only comprise about 12 percent of all U.S. stocks. The reality is that these stocks can't be predicted with any consistency, especially long-term.
In the complicated world of financial services, you're being misled.
Wall Street advisors employ a strategy of "active marketing," which is the continual development of new products designed and marketed as the latest and greatest solution to investors' fears and concerns. There is an addiction factor at work here; active marketing feeds our desire to roll the dice. This rolling of the dice takes the form of stock picking, market timing and return chasing, activities otherwise known as active management.
The alternative is to "super-diversify" your portfolio with a wide array of unrelated investment choices and assets. This strategy allows you to own the market as a whole, rather than just a few of its components, thereby increasing your return and reducing the risk.
Based on Nobel Prize-winning research known as Modern Portfolio Theory, the application of this theory into a properly diversified portfolio - what I call a "Market Return Portfolio" - consists of no-load institutional asset class mutual funds you normally don't see in many portfolios. Choices such as micro-cap, small cap international, emerging markets and value stocks can lead to more consistent long-term returns equal to or somewhat greater than the market at large.
Another important aspect of proper portfolio management is finding the right firm to work with. Look for one that is independent, uses a fee structure whereby the firm is paid directly and only from clients, and uses a market return approach. The right strategy, managed by the right help, can truly bring wealth without worry.
In some sense, worry-free investing isn't really possible. People will always worry about taking care of their families and they'll always worry about their country's economy. Yet true "wealth without worry" means not having to track the daily movement of the market, saving time and energy for more important things in life.
Investors' confidence should be put not in an adviser or their own stock-picking prowess, but rather in the economic miracle we call capitalism. By tracking market movement over the past seven or eight decades, we see that the market goes up more than 80 percent of the time.
The expansion of capital markets is inevitable -; and a windfall for market return investors.
Investors today face a barrage of conflicting information and exaggerated return claims from what most people consider the "market" -; the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But these indexes only comprise about 12 percent of all U.S. stocks. The reality is that these stocks can't be predicted with any consistency, especially long-term.
In the complicated world of financial services, you're being misled.
Wall Street advisors employ a strategy of "active marketing," which is the continual development of new products designed and marketed as the latest and greatest solution to investors' fears and concerns. There is an addiction factor at work here; active marketing feeds our desire to roll the dice. This rolling of the dice takes the form of stock picking, market timing and return chasing, activities otherwise known as active management.
The alternative is to "super-diversify" your portfolio with a wide array of unrelated investment choices and assets. This strategy allows you to own the market as a whole, rather than just a few of its components, thereby increasing your return and reducing the risk.
Based on Nobel Prize-winning research known as Modern Portfolio Theory, the application of this theory into a properly diversified portfolio - what I call a "Market Return Portfolio" - consists of no-load institutional asset class mutual funds you normally don't see in many portfolios. Choices such as micro-cap, small cap international, emerging markets and value stocks can lead to more consistent long-term returns equal to or somewhat greater than the market at large.
Another important aspect of proper portfolio management is finding the right firm to work with. Look for one that is independent, uses a fee structure whereby the firm is paid directly and only from clients, and uses a market return approach. The right strategy, managed by the right help, can truly bring wealth without worry.
In some sense, worry-free investing isn't really possible. People will always worry about taking care of their families and they'll always worry about their country's economy. Yet true "wealth without worry" means not having to track the daily movement of the market, saving time and energy for more important things in life.
Investors' confidence should be put not in an adviser or their own stock-picking prowess, but rather in the economic miracle we call capitalism. By tracking market movement over the past seven or eight decades, we see that the market goes up more than 80 percent of the time.
The expansion of capital markets is inevitable -; and a windfall for market return investors.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Violet the Pilot in France - Review
Violet the Pilot in France is the second book in children’s series written by author Bettina Bathe. This adventure involves a hot air balloon trip in Provence, France. Proud Canadian author and commercial pilot, Bettina Bathe was certain to include a Canadian flag patch on her main character’s shoulder. However, Violet the pilot also embraces the country she is working in by placing that country’s flag patch on her other shoulder.
Two young French passengers who want to take a balloon ride to a desirable location for their bike tour adventure, hire Violet’s aviation services. The ride is interrupted with weather problems, but Violet saves them all with her confident and quick-thinking maneuvers. Violet’s animal and insect friends are the ground crew who has their own adventure just trying to keep up to the balloon. After a lovely picnic feast, Violet serenades her departing passengers with a song on her violin.
Illustrations by Barbara Fortin depict rural France, including interesting French architecture, agriculture and fashion. These bright, bold pictures are full of subtle information.
The book uses a few French words and the reader is encouraged to bring interest in the globe and navigation methods in children through useful maps and illustrations. Readers will learn how a hot air balloon is flown - from the pre-flight set-up, testing the wind and flying techniques to landing a hot air balloon. However, Violet the Pilot in France offers more than entertainment and education - the author has also dedicated a portion of the sales of this book to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Additionally, Bettina’s website (www.violetthepilot.com) offers contests and awards for young readers.
ISBN#: 0-9738290-0-1
Author: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: Violet the Pilot Enterprises, Inc.
Published: July 2005
Two young French passengers who want to take a balloon ride to a desirable location for their bike tour adventure, hire Violet’s aviation services. The ride is interrupted with weather problems, but Violet saves them all with her confident and quick-thinking maneuvers. Violet’s animal and insect friends are the ground crew who has their own adventure just trying to keep up to the balloon. After a lovely picnic feast, Violet serenades her departing passengers with a song on her violin.
Illustrations by Barbara Fortin depict rural France, including interesting French architecture, agriculture and fashion. These bright, bold pictures are full of subtle information.
The book uses a few French words and the reader is encouraged to bring interest in the globe and navigation methods in children through useful maps and illustrations. Readers will learn how a hot air balloon is flown - from the pre-flight set-up, testing the wind and flying techniques to landing a hot air balloon. However, Violet the Pilot in France offers more than entertainment and education - the author has also dedicated a portion of the sales of this book to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Additionally, Bettina’s website (www.violetthepilot.com) offers contests and awards for young readers.
ISBN#: 0-9738290-0-1
Author: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: Violet the Pilot Enterprises, Inc.
Published: July 2005
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