tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33204277245373959292024-03-14T01:58:22.982-04:00Poetic LicenseThis blog is a forum for those wishing to post film and book reviews including poems, artwork, photographs and music that you especially like and wish to share with others. If you are interested in posting articles onto this blog, contact sweanypat@gmail.com.Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-32077440447981120442011-08-30T14:36:00.014-04:002011-08-30T16:55:15.423-04:00Rob Roy: A Highland Adventure<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7VrNo4ipW6Y/Tl0uXZ5CS6I/AAAAAAAAAMs/GGUJwT7Mbjc/s1600/2_midi.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7VrNo4ipW6Y/Tl0uXZ5CS6I/AAAAAAAAAMs/GGUJwT7Mbjc/s200/2_midi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646720487414451106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Over the past month I have been recovering from foot surgery.<span style=""> </span>This meant w</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">eeks spent in a recliner w</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">atching movies to keep my mind occupied.<span style=""> </span>One of the films that I watched was</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> <i style="">Rob Roy</i> starring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange.<span style=""> </span>When one thinks of Scotland, movie audiences almost immediately think of <span style="font-style: italic;">BraveHeart</span>. I happen to think <span style="font-style: italic;">Rob Roy</span> is superior to <span style="font-style: italic;">Braveheart</span> in many ways.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Rob Roy </span>is a 1995 historical drama film direct</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">ed</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> by Michael Caton-Jones. Liam Neeson stars as Robert Roy MacGregor, an 18th century Scottish historical figure who battles with feudal landowners in the Scottish Highland</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">s.<span style=""> </span>The villains in this movie were perfectly casted.<span style=""> </span>John Hurt, famous for his portrayal of Caligula in the <span class="st">1976 BBC television</span> production of<i style=""> I Claudius</i>, plays the part of Marquis of Montrose who lends Rob Roy £1000 only to have Montrose’s conniving factor Killearn (Brian Cox) and evil henchmen Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth) conspiring to take the money for themselves.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Together John Hurt and Tim Roth portray th</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">e greed that can befall men who hunger for nobility and power.<span style=""> </span>Tim Roth was nominated for the Academy Award for Best </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the villain Archibald Cunningham</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y92Nl0MkVcQ/Tl0vOnUgTeI/AAAAAAAAAM8/X_P_DZz6Ihg/s1600/wig.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y92Nl0MkVcQ/Tl0vOnUgTeI/AAAAAAAAAM8/X_P_DZz6Ihg/s200/wig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646721435912130018" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >(Tim Roth as </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Archibald Cunningham)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GyirgAGbDZA/Tl0wixyZ2nI/AAAAAAAAANU/5_o1Pq8fQBA/s1600/8434-16130.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GyirgAGbDZA/Tl0wixyZ2nI/AAAAAAAAANU/5_o1Pq8fQBA/s200/8434-16130.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646722881830902386" border="0" /></a></p> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> <p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >(John Hurt as </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Marquis of Montrose)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pbvvwb-t4iY/Tl0xG_aK_RI/AAAAAAAAANc/o-U2BWFOG60/s1600/rob_roy_liam_neeson.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pbvvwb-t4iY/Tl0xG_aK_RI/AAAAAAAAANc/o-U2BWFOG60/s200/rob_roy_liam_neeson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646723503962651922" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Liam Neeson as Robert </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Roy MacGregor)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Breathtak</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">ing landscapes of the Scottish hi</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">ghlands, steamy love scenes and non-stoping, riveting action together make this film a must see.<span style=""> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Rob Roy </span>had excellent cinematographers in Karl Walter Lindenlaub and Roger Deakins and costume designer Sandy Powell.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">The realistic sword fighting scenes in this movie can be attributed to fencing master and choreographer William Hobbs who also choreographed <span style="font-style: italic;">Othello</span> (1965), <span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span> (1982) and <span style=""><span style="font-style: italic;">The Count of Monte Cristo</span> (2002) among many other great films.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Click below to view the final duel between Rob Roy and the infamous Archibald Cunningham in addition to a montage of the movie with Celtic music performed by Scottish folk singer Karen Matheson.</span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object style="height: 390px; width: 400px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HJMC2keqX_0?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HJMC2keqX_0?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="390" width="400"></embed></object>
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<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-2826666632145826422011-08-27T23:34:00.000-04:002011-08-28T10:00:11.233-04:00Just For The Beauty Of It....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><em>By guest author ClassicBecky</em> <br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/</span></a> </span></em><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nlriAbfNCTY/Tlo24LnyKnI/AAAAAAAACQM/nuPPsj264HI/s1600/john+white+alexander+picture+of+himself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nlriAbfNCTY/Tlo24LnyKnI/AAAAAAAACQM/nuPPsj264HI/s200/john+white+alexander+picture+of+himself.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John White Alexander</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I had never heard of the artist John White Alexander (1856-1915) until Yvette, a blogger friend of mine, highlighted some of his paintings on her site. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>(See below for information to visit Yvette's lovely site.)</em></span> His work is stunningly beautiful, specializing in portraiture, and I plan to try to obtain at least one print for myself. Alexander was a very popular artist of his day, and he did portraits of many famous people, including Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes and Walt Whitman. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alexander was quite celebrated, accepted into the famous Beaux Arts Salon in Paris, and his paintings now hang in museums, including The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Library of Congress. I find it strange that his work was not known to me, but here for your enjoyment is a selection of some of my personal favorites: <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQP3kLUqrTU/TlmyF9yBXAI/AAAAAAAACPI/SQIL1aFNNLQ/s1600/John+White+Alexander+Juliette+1897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQP3kLUqrTU/TlmyF9yBXAI/AAAAAAAACPI/SQIL1aFNNLQ/s320/John+White+Alexander+Juliette+1897.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juliette</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q95ypsUcnMc/Tlo3RGQpIzI/AAAAAAAACQY/Dr72O9rq7NE/s1600/john+white+alexander+the+gray+portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q95ypsUcnMc/Tlo3RGQpIzI/AAAAAAAACQY/Dr72O9rq7NE/s320/john+white+alexander+the+gray+portrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait in Gray</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OlUL5-YXigQ/Tlmyj27ssHI/AAAAAAAACPc/FdQGTs2vU0o/s1600/John+White+Alexander+Young+Girl+in+Rose+1895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OlUL5-YXigQ/Tlmyj27ssHI/AAAAAAAACPc/FdQGTs2vU0o/s320/John+White+Alexander+Young+Girl+in+Rose+1895.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Girl in Rose</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3ZJy5w4cJc/Tlo3LXoNamI/AAAAAAAACQU/dgiLjuyzG5w/s1600/john+white+alexander+portrait+of+Mark+Twain.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3ZJy5w4cJc/Tlo3LXoNamI/AAAAAAAACQU/dgiLjuyzG5w/s1600/john+white+alexander+portrait+of+Mark+Twain.bmp" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Mark Twain</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oxNJ5RcYSk/Tlo3almkz2I/AAAAAAAACQc/MRmFEG68Eic/s1600/john+white+alexander+a+ray+of+sunlight+the+cellist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oxNJ5RcYSk/Tlo3almkz2I/AAAAAAAACQc/MRmFEG68Eic/s320/john+white+alexander+a+ray+of+sunlight+the+cellist.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Ray Of Sunlight (the Cellist)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvcOgP_RXHY/TlmyXAMkVEI/AAAAAAAACPU/l6N3vzM1HbQ/s1600/John+White+Alexander+Althea+1895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvcOgP_RXHY/TlmyXAMkVEI/AAAAAAAACPU/l6N3vzM1HbQ/s320/John+White+Alexander+Althea+1895.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Althea</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxzxc0ArAXY/TlmyvVDSU2I/AAAAAAAACPg/yucQ7YDynQY/s1600/John+White+Isabella+and+the+Pot+of+Basil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxzxc0ArAXY/TlmyvVDSU2I/AAAAAAAACPg/yucQ7YDynQY/s400/John+White+Isabella+and+the+Pot+of+Basil.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella and the Pot of Basil</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
If you could choose one painting from this selection, which would it be? For me, it is the lovely Isabella ... and now I'm getting greedy ... I want The Cellist too! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Visit Yvette's blog<em>, in so many words...,</em> to see more of John White Alexander, and to enjoy her offerings of art, literature and classic film reviews. Click on </span><a href="http://www.yvettecandraw.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.yvettecandraw.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">. )</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-66242638290889978282011-08-27T15:04:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:30:22.401-04:00Halloween Season Begins in Blogosphere<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AazrVTjuTQ/TllFwtJDN3I/AAAAAAAAAMY/_5f0uYjTE70/s1600/5100591671_e0a3c77774_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AazrVTjuTQ/TllFwtJDN3I/AAAAAAAAAMY/_5f0uYjTE70/s200/5100591671_e0a3c77774_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645620310939219826" border="0" /></a>Halloween may be a couple months away but the Halloween Season has already begun in the Blogosphere.<span style=""> </span>There are many great blogs out there to help you get into the mood of ghosts and goblins.<span style=""> </span>I wouldn’t have the space to include them all in one post.<span style=""> </span>Below are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!
<br /><p class="MsoNormal">George Van Orsdel’s Monster Spookshow Radio</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://monsterspookshowradio.blogspot.com/">http://monsterspookshowradio.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Halloween Holler</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://halloweenholler.blogspot.com/">http://halloweenholler.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">PumpkinRot</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://pumpkinrot.blogspot.com/">http://pumpkinrot.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-66458417482614632412011-02-10T20:53:00.000-05:002011-08-19T18:06:59.034-04:00The Heart is a Lonely Hunter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzYi3tsSR1Y/TVSboAi-3-I/AAAAAAAAAKg/LsWKiQm29i0/s1600/hjdlb0spsk1yhn3p2fwdmshno1_400.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzYi3tsSR1Y/TVSboAi-3-I/AAAAAAAAAKg/LsWKiQm29i0/s200/hjdlb0spsk1yhn3p2fwdmshno1_400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572249750607945698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_rcgvQRpE6k/TVSbbubJxsI/AAAAAAAAAKY/LL5JNs4b6U4/s1600/art223img206.jpg"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ></span><span style=";font-family:";" > </span><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apKlhhaQXIg/TVSbuxQI9tI/AAAAAAAAAKo/kSINwqdg5iI/s1600/art223img206.jpg"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </a></p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Playwright and author, Tennessee Williams called her “the greatest prose writer that the South produced.” I fell in love with Carson McCullers’ writing when I read <i face="arial">The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter</i>. In her debut novel which she wrote at the young age of 22, McCullers interweaves the racial tensions in the South with the internal human struggles of her characters. McCullers touches on several themes including unrequited love, racism, poverty, cruelty, forgiveness and loneliness. </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;">Set in a small Southern mill town in the 1930s, <i>The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter</i> is a richly told, unforgettable story about a deaf-mute John Singer and a spirited young teenager girl, Mick Kelly. Mick is an idealist beyond her financial means who struggles for happiness. She becomes infatuated with Singer. In the end, Singer is a “Christ-like” figure where those broken, misunderstood, put-upon characters rely on to help them in their search for meaning in their lives.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">One of my favorite literary reviews reads of this novel reads as follows:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"This book is literature. Because it is literature, when one puts it down it is not with a feeling of emptiness and despair, but with a feeling of having been nourished by the truth. For one knows at the end, that it is these cheated people, these with burning intense needs and purposes, who must inherit the earth. They are the reason for the existence of a democracy which is still to be created. This is the way it is, one says to oneself - but not forever." - May Sarton.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apKlhhaQXIg/TVSbuxQI9tI/AAAAAAAAAKo/kSINwqdg5iI/s1600/art223img206.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apKlhhaQXIg/TVSbuxQI9tI/AAAAAAAAAKo/kSINwqdg5iI/s200/art223img206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572249866761467602" border="0" /></a></p>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-42092519552186035162011-01-15T17:09:00.000-05:002011-02-06T20:19:13.873-05:00Edge of Darkness: A Norwegian Epic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TUrZ6VYVgsI/AAAAAAAAAKI/j6AYbzy8dak/s1600/Poster%2B-%2BEdge%2Bof%2BDarkness_01.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TUrZ6VYVgsI/AAAAAAAAAKI/j6AYbzy8dak/s320/Poster%2B-%2BEdge%2Bof%2BDarkness_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569503485391897282" border="0" /></a><br />Lewis Milestone's Edge of Darkness, released in 1943, depicts the heroic true story of the Nazi resistance led by villagers in a small Norwegian fishing town of Kronos. It's hard to fathom that the threat of Nazi occupation stretched far North into Scandinavia.<br /><br />Edge of Darkness is full of beautiful cinematography that captures Norway’s scenic beauty. The movie opens with German planes flying through the clouds and mist that engulf the mountains and villages. The head of the fisherman’s union, Gunnar Brogge, (played by Errol Flynn) assumes command of the resistance after his lover Karen Stensgard (played by Ann Sheridan) is raped by a German soldier.<br /><br />Edge of Darkness captures the human struggles experienced by Norwegians under Nazi occupation. Lewis Milestone, who also directed "All Quiet on the Western Front" delivers a wartime drama at its best.<br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-4092805798584355602010-10-21T23:43:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:12:06.658-04:00Salem's Lot: A Macabre Delight<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TMEJS75H-lI/AAAAAAAAAJU/7KGjovSWw3g/s1600/af5d20cad1860eab0435e501cbb0d961.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TMEJS75H-lI/AAAAAAAAAJU/7KGjovSWw3g/s320/af5d20cad1860eab0435e501cbb0d961.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530712038307265106" border="0" /></a>
<br />Horror movies are one of the most difficult genres to pull off successfully with audiences today. There are so many horror movies being made today and most of them are terribly written and unoriginal. Many of the best horror movies ever made were based on novels or short stories written by the "King of Horror" himself, Stephen King.
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<br />My next movie recommendation for this month is Salem’s Lot which is based on Stephen King’s second novel. Salem’s Lot aired as a television miniseries in 1979 frightening millions right in their own living rooms. Salem’s Lot is a deeply engrossing story that unfolds exactly as if you were reading a book. The pace of the movie for today’s audience may seem slow, but the slower pace allows time to weave intricate relationships between key players of the story and creates a ripple like effect as the suspense of the movie increases.
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<br />Salem’s Lot is a story about author Ben Mears who returns to his childhood town to write a book on the infamous Marsten House, a 19th Century Gothic mansion that has haunted Ben since his childhood. The Marsten House was once occupied by child rapist and murderer Hubert Marsten who mysteriously died in the house. Upon Ben's arrival, he discovers that the house was recently purchased by two antique dealers, Straker and Barlow. Acclaimed British actor James Mason, who played Brutus in the 1953 production of Julius Caesar, delivers a stunning and eerie performance as Straker.
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<br />Not long after Ben's arrival, a child goes missing in Salem's Lot while another is admitted to the hospital for pernicious anemia (severe blood loss) and dies. Others soon go missing and soon the town of Salem's lot seems to be dying off to some mysterious plague. As bodies go missing from morgues and cemeteries, Ben believes the source of the evil that has succumbed Salem's Lot lies in the Marsten House and its evil tenants Straker and Mr. Barlow, whom no one has ever seen.
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<br />Salem's Lot is a truly terrifying Gothic horror movie that is reminiscent of Bram Stroker's Dracula. What it lacks in special effects and gore, it makes up in suspense and atmosphere.
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<br />Click here to view movie trailer:
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<br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 390px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sVDsFa6lqP4?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sVDsFa6lqP4?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="390" width="640"></embed></object>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-40061424974638165622010-10-15T16:36:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:12:43.205-04:00Fright Night: A Cult Classic<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TLi8O6KyzLI/AAAAAAAAAJM/v-H3XuklZRs/s1600/fright_night_1985_movie_poster_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 202px; float: left; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528375506916002994" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TLi8O6KyzLI/AAAAAAAAAJM/v-H3XuklZRs/s320/fright_night_1985_movie_poster_01.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Vampires have become such a cliché in today's pop culture, that it's not often that you find an original vampire flick that delivers. Ironically, the one vampire flick that does and one that I recommend, "Fright Night", is actually a spoof of the vampire myth, albeit a scary one. Instead of deviating from the classic lore behind the vampire legend, director Tom Holland is able to retain all the elements of the traditional myth and integrate them into 1980s America. "Fright Night" which was released in 1985 has gone on to be a cult classic. So much so, that DreamWorks recently revealed that they are in the process of making (you guessed it) a remake. More reason why you should see this one before it will be forever tainted by a remake.
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<br />Charlie Brewster loves two things; horror movies and his girlfriend Amy. In fact, the movie opens with the two together watching Charlie's favorite TV show "Fright Night", a campy horror show hosted by washed-up actor Peter Vincent (played by Roddy McDowall). As they're busy watching and making out, they are interrupted by two men moving in next door. Charlie thinks it odd that they would be moving in at night. In the <em>nights</em> that follow, strange occurrences happen that persuade Charlie that their strange behavior can only be explained by the fact that his new neighbors are indeed a vampire and his undead watchdog during the daylight hours.
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<br />Fright Night contains all the elements of a fun, scary movie; it's original, sexy, and full of comic relief. Ladies and men of a certain persuasion will ditch the "Edward" or "Jacob" camp of the "Twilight" series and opt for Jerry Dandrige played by actor Chris Sarandon. All audiences will enjoy watching Amanda Bearse' debut appearance who went on to play Al Bundy's neighbor Marcy in the 90s sitcom "Married with Children". She was a young actress in this film, and those who haven't seen "Fright Night" yet will be struck on how attractive she is in this film. Fright Night will also delight new audiences with its orginal soundtrack that remains a successful selling item on Amazon even today, 20+ years later!Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-61932832176178182362010-10-12T01:14:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:12:56.288-04:00The Tell-Tale Heart: Narrated by Acclaimed British Actor James Mason<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TLQI2PW7QwI/AAAAAAAAAI8/sEDaLcqHf-c/s1600/telltale1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TLQI2PW7QwI/AAAAAAAAAI8/sEDaLcqHf-c/s320/telltale1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527052370619089666" border="0" /></a>
<br />Have you ever had the opportunity to tell a scary story to your friends or family? Not so easy was it? Perhaps you weren't able to excite a fearful reaction from your audience that you had hoped for. If this was the case, you're not alone. The ability to narrate a scary story is truly an artform that takes training and which few are able to master.
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<br />It's one thing to relay the details of your scary story across to your audience so they can understand the basic plot. However, it's quite another thing to deliver a scary story effectively to evoke a fearful response from your audience. This is where the art of delivery comes into play.
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<br />So what better way to enhance your scary story telling skills than by hearing a scary story from acclaimed British actor James Mason. James Mason's sophisticated delivery and tone are what made him one of Britian's most distinguished actors. I became a huge fan of James Mason after watching his portrayal of Brutus in the 1953production of "Julius Caesar". Plus I just love the way he talks.
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<br />Enjoy a wonderful animated short film based on Edgar Allan Poe's short-story "The Tell-Tale Heart" narrated by James Mason.
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<br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W4s9V8aQu4c?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W4s9V8aQu4c?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="400" width="400"></embed></object>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-75549138292007801732010-10-08T12:28:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:13:14.121-04:00Once Bitten: A cheesy 80s comedy that is sure to get you into the Halloween spirit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TK9IPKFsYBI/AAAAAAAAAIc/hNlZJ_ZdCWU/s1600/6341869bf53567802faf47ad200c8e0f.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TK9IPKFsYBI/AAAAAAAAAIc/hNlZJ_ZdCWU/s320/6341869bf53567802faf47ad200c8e0f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525714693050359826" border="0" /></a>
<br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have a confession to make.<span style=""> </span>Ever since I was very young, I fell in love with campy 80s movies. Maybe it's because I'm a product of the 80s, or maybe it’s because my parents had HBO when I was growing up. Anyways, one of my favorite campiest 80s movies of all time just happens to be my next Halloween movie recommendation.<span style=""> </span>"Once Bitten", which was released in 1985, stars Jim Carrey and sexy actress and supermodel Lauren Hutton.<span style=""> </span>Lauren Hutton was one of America's first supermodels, cover girl and cosmetics spokeswoman since the 1960s.<span style=""> </span>Lauren Hutton was in her early 40s when she made "Once Bitten" and still looked stunning. <span style=""> </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">The plot is simple enough.<span style=""> </span>Mark Kendall (played by Jim Carrey) is a high school student living in Los Angeles and is desperate to get laid with his girlfriend Robin (played by Karen Kopins), but she is not quite ready.<span style=""> </span>So one night, Mark and his goofy friends, Jamie and Russ, decide to cruise Hollywood to pick up chicks.<span style=""> </span>They are able to sneak into a trendy Hollywood nightclub where Mark becomes seduced at the bar by the Countess (played by Lauren Hutton).<span style=""> </span>What Mark doesn't realize is that the Countess is not looking for a good time.<span style=""> </span>She has a problem. She is a 400 year old vampire who needs to feed on the blood of a virgin three times ever year before Halloween or else she will lose her beauty.<span style=""> </span>Will the Countess, with the help of her flamboyant servant Sebastian (played by Cleavon Little) along with her coven of vampires succeed in finding a virgin in LA?<span style=""> </span>You will need to rent the movie to see if Mark succumbs to the Countess' bloodthirsty desire.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"> I want to take this time to share a funny true story that is connected to this movie.<span style=""> </span>My brother was in Kindergarten, yes Kindergarten, when he discovered this movie; probably through my bad influence.<span style=""> </span>Anyways, there's a pick-up line used in the movie by Mark’s friend Russ that my brother retained to memory and after which he began to recite it to just about anyone including his kindergarten teacher without knowing the sexual connotations behind it.<span style=""> </span>The pick-up line goes, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> "Hi. I'm a Sagittarius. I enjoy surfing, candlelit dinners, and Tolstoy. Listen. I'm a mature person and you're a mature person, so why don't we just skip all the bullshit, get rid of our inhibitions, and DO what we really wanna DO? "</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Can you imagine hearing that line from the the mouth of a kid in kindergarten? Well my brother did it and it was absolutely hilarious.<span style=""> </span>We still have old family movies with him saying that line. Now that's a priceless and precious family memory we will always cherish!!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">“Once Bitten” is just a fun and innocent movie which could only have been pulled off in the 80s.<span style=""> </span>Definitely cheesy, but sexy and entertaining just the same.<span style=""> </span>If you like underground 80s music as I do, you will enjoy the music sequences used throughout the film.<span style=""> </span>There is also a sexy dance sequence with Jim Carrey, Lauren Hutton and Karen Kopins at the high school Halloween dance that is alone worth watching the movie.<span style=""> </span>Jim Carrey is a surprisingly good dancer. "Once Bitten" was the film that put Jim Carrey on the road to stardom and soon afterwards went onto work for Fox's successful comedy sitcom "In Loving Color".<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you want to mix up your Halloween movies with a taste of comedy, "Once Bitten" is a tasty treat that is sure to entertain you and your friends this Halloween.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p>Click below to view movie trailer:
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<br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9ERIQZOHlAc?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9ERIQZOHlAc?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="390" width="640"></embed></object>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-4866440552491958782010-10-07T19:00:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:13:35.965-04:00Short And Sweet -- A Halloween Movie Suggestion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JzAKEtVyH60/TK5P93ZiFDI/AAAAAAAABSk/MqzDfK76ZC8/s1600/changeling+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img ex="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JzAKEtVyH60/TK5P93ZiFDI/AAAAAAAABSk/MqzDfK76ZC8/s1600/changeling+poster.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;">There are very few truly great horror movies, in my opinion. There are many that are fun to watch, many that are creepy, a LOT that are just plain gory. True horror, however, is more difficult to convey. One movie that does so in an incredible way is <em>The Changeling</em> (1980) with George C. Scott, Melvin Douglas and Trish Van Devere. (Do not confuse this with the more recent movie <em>Changeling </em>with Nicole Kidman. There is no relationship between the two.)</div>
<br /><div style="border: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JzAKEtVyH60/TK5PwiZMi9I/AAAAAAAABSg/4pU-8tEIxVI/s1600/changeling+scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img ex="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JzAKEtVyH60/TK5PwiZMi9I/AAAAAAAABSg/4pU-8tEIxVI/s1600/changeling+scott.jpg" border="0" /></a>The great George C. Scott gives his usual tour de force performance as a composer, a man recovering from a great tragedy. He rents a huge and beautiful old house with a secret as tragic as his own. That's it, that's all you are getting out of me. Any further discussion would have to include aspects of the movie that would spoil it for those who have not seen it. </div><div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div><div style="border: medium none;">The Changeling is available on Netflix, and may be available on some movie-on-demand lists. However you are able to find it, don't miss this one, especially during the month of ghosts and demons! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-28278152502247093892010-10-04T03:38:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:11:24.848-04:00Christine: Scary Movie Recommendation # 1<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKmEwmCvilI/AAAAAAAAAH8/YeCzWY-MTdQ/s1600/1_800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524092388327262802" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKmEwmCvilI/AAAAAAAAAH8/YeCzWY-MTdQ/s200/1_800.jpg" border="0" /></a> Only Stephen King could frighten millions of readers with a story about an evil 1958 Plymouth Fury and write it in such a way that makes it both believable and terrifying as well. "Christine" is one of King's earlier novels and one that I highly recommend reading. As with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga, King takes you back to those wonderful days of high school. Unlike Twilight, King's protagonist Arnold Cunningham (high shool nerd) falls in love with a possessed 1959 Plymouth Fury instead of a seducing, charming vampire. Arnold's best friend Dennis Guilder (football jock) is not happy with Arnie's decision to buy the rusted, beat-up car in the first place. The book follows Arnie's infatuation over his car "Christine" transform into a disturbing obsession, then finally into a frightening rage.
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<br /><div>After purchasing "Christine", Arnie undergoes a dramatic change. His acne miraculously clears up. Remember, this story takes place in the 70s, well before ProActiv Acne Solution hit the market. His confidence signficantly increases and he is able to fend off his bullies and fall in love with beautiful Leigh Cabot to boot. While "Christine" is responsible for this transformation, she soon becomes insanely jealous and territorial. In the end, Arnie is forced to choose between "Christine" or his friends.
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<br /></div><div></div><div>Since it's Halloween season, I highly recommend that you add "Christine" to your horror movie list. Christine was released in 1983 and directed by John Carpenter, who is well known for "The Thing", "Halloween", "Escape from New York", "Escape from LA" and "Vampires". I personally love John Carpenter's movies. His style is raw and entertaining and "Christine" is classic John Carpenter all the way. </div><div></div><div>If you have "Encore On Demand", you should be able to access the movie through the month of October. I will try to post additional horror movie favorites of mine every day this month.
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<br /><object style="width: 640px; height: 390px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bav7frH9Ukg?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bav7frH9Ukg?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="390" width="640"></embed></object></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-69777217595660490572010-10-02T00:03:00.001-04:002011-08-27T15:11:44.542-04:00Get into the Halloween Spirit Early This Year<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKa0VQ1QrXI/AAAAAAAAAHk/KtmSn24nxVo/s1600/horseman3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 140px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523300270405102962" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKa0VQ1QrXI/AAAAAAAAAHk/KtmSn24nxVo/s200/horseman3.jpg" border="0" /></a>Since Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, I will be posting Halloween related "stuff" all this month. I am opening up the blog this month to anyone who would like to post an article about a scary movie, story, peom or book that you would like to share with others. If you have any funny Halloween party stories or of something eerie that you personally experienced, that would be great material to post as well.
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<br />If you're not already a contributing author and want to be, let me know so I can authorize you to post your own content.
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<br />All Halloween posts can be found in the "Chapters" box located on the right side of page under "Halloween 2010".Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-77715142018354420572010-10-01T23:54:00.000-04:002010-12-17T12:11:13.385-05:00That Most Precious Gift: A Medieval Love Story<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKats1YXybI/AAAAAAAAAHc/inTgjynCaIM/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 105px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523292978771642802" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKats1YXybI/AAAAAAAAAHc/inTgjynCaIM/s320/untitled.bmp" /></a>To read this medieval love story submitted by Tim Bryant, visit the "Short Stories" section located on right side of page and click "That Most Precious Gift by Tim Bryant".Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-3828778731361709462010-10-01T22:14:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:14:00.116-04:00There Once Lived A Woman Who Tried To Kill Her Neighbor's Baby: Scary Fairy Tales<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKagx_e9eJI/AAAAAAAAAHU/XNc-XYMBxG8/s1600/44537482.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 185px; float: left; height: 247px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523278773731817618" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKagx_e9eJI/AAAAAAAAAHU/XNc-XYMBxG8/s320/44537482.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div>"There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby" is sure to get you into the Halloween spirit. The title of this book alone says it all. Vanishings and apparitions, nightmares and twists of fate, mysterious ailments and supernatural interventions haunt these stories by Russian author Ludmilla Petrushevskaya. Although her stories in this book are reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe’s writing style, Ludmilla’s style is in a class entirely of her own.
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<br />According to the English translators of this book Keith Gessen and Anna Summers, Ludmilla’s writing style can best be explained from a subtitle she used in one of her earlier works called “The Possibilities of Menippea”. According to ancient Greek mythology, Menippus visited Hades and since then the satirical genre named after him has often been said to include visits to the literal or social underworld. These visits are called nekyia, a night journey, after Homer’s term in the “Odyssey”. Classic nekyia describe travels to the underworld and dialogues with the dead. In Homer’s Odyssey, for example, Odysseus must first drink human blood before talking with the dead. Modern nekyia include Lewis Caroll's “Alice in Wonderland” and Henry James' “The Turn of the Screw”. Modern nekyia typically involve extraordinary situations involving near death experiences and borderline states where both reality and time are ambiguous.
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<br />Ludmilla’s work was heavily scrutinized during the days of Communist Russia. It took the collapse of the Soviet Union before all of her work could be widely circulated.
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<br />The following critique of the book sums the book up perfectly.
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<br />“Blending the miraculous with the macabre, and leavened by a mischievous gallows humor, these bewitching tales are like nothing being written in Russia-or anywhere else in the world-today.” </div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-32918456938797687872010-09-30T02:19:00.000-04:002011-08-27T15:10:58.756-04:00Danse MacabreI thought I would get into the Halloween spirit a little early this year. I will be posting miscellaneous halloween "stuff" every day till Halloween. This is a neat animation accompanied by Camille Saint Saens' famous Danse Macabre. Enjoy!
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<br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CcxYBhn-2q4?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CcxYBhn-2q4?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="390" width="640"></embed></object>"Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-83764014411175514512010-07-14T21:45:00.000-04:002011-08-16T00:03:48.226-04:00Immigrant ChurchThe nave, once filled with the massed faithful
<br />Offering their prayers to the God who drove the serpents and famine out of the old country.
<br />So here they came, the brave and anguished to begin a new life.
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<br />The crucified Christ watches over his faithful flock from his vantage point above the high altar.
<br />"Fear not my flock, for My Father has blessed your tribe
<br />But bring to this house your prayers and concerns.
<br />So that your flock will flourish and not be scattered"
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<br />A century past, engulfed by time brought with it much opportunity
<br />Has now scattered the flock away from the hearth of the city.
<br />Leaving this house empty, save for a few faithful too old to make the journey
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<br />A new flock now has entered this nave.
<br />"Fear not my flock, for My Father has blessed your tribe
<br />But bring to this house your prayers and concerns
<br />So that your flock will flourish, and not be scattered"Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-46988955457464248522010-07-14T21:42:00.001-04:002010-10-08T21:39:55.663-04:00Dawn Messenger<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKtLzP6bDhI/AAAAAAAAAIM/6rBmwmgzq4Q/s1600/Mourning-Dove.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524592711717031442" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TKtLzP6bDhI/AAAAAAAAAIM/6rBmwmgzq4Q/s200/Mourning-Dove.jpg" /></a><br />A mourning dove perches outside my window to welcome this new day.<br />As the sun rises, shining radiantly upon my bedspread<br />A gracious breeze brushes across my cheeks<br /><br />Dawn Messenger<br />How sweet your music is to my Soul<br /><br />Angelic bird, so sweet is your tune.<br />As Apollo inspired the Muses by playing his lyre<br />You bring me messages of good cheer<br /><br />Dawn Messenger<br />How sweet your music is to my Heart<br /><br /><strong>*</strong> Photo courtesy of Jack Bolin <a href="http://www.jackbolin.com/large-view/Jack"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">http://www.jackbolin.com/large-view/Jack</span></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><br /></span><br />* <a href="http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=7"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=7</span></a>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-90091870074553704132010-07-14T21:39:00.000-04:002010-10-23T12:54:05.771-04:00Untitled<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TK_Iebcvx7I/AAAAAAAAAIs/MWJnbQjCfQs/s1600/SnowyNightQuiet405.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525855692896847794" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TK_Iebcvx7I/AAAAAAAAAIs/MWJnbQjCfQs/s320/SnowyNightQuiet405.jpg" /></a>Walking through the heart of campus alone, one snowy night from Lab.<br />Wind blowing against my cheeks.<br />Sparkling snow illuminated by campus street lamps which align a walking path.<br />Surrounded by Gothic lecture halls.<br />Built of proud Indiana limestone, withstanding the test of time<br />By mocking each new years passing.<br /><br />On this winter’s night, walking through the heart of campus.<br />Alone, Alone.<br /><br />A presence in the air this night, I feel watches over me<br />As if some destined path awaits me.<br />This walking solitude is but prayer<br />To a God yet undiscovered.<br />Not the God which has been passed down from time’s past.<br />No, this God is hidden and shared by myself alone<br /><br />On this winter’s night, walking through the heart of campus.<br />Alone, Alone.<br /><br />World of anxiety, I am protected on this night<br />Will this not always be so?<br />Morning light must break.<br />My future lies uncertain and my journey’s just begun<br /><br />On this winter’s night, walking through the heart of campus.<br />Alone, Alone.Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-70542056180477620952010-07-14T13:20:00.000-04:002010-07-14T14:18:50.476-04:00Optical Illusions<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TD3_YGlmUCI/AAAAAAAAAF4/-48Q1dITPCE/s1600/RGonsalves_Ladies_Lake.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="http://discoverygalleries.com/ArtistGallery.asp?artist_id=23&category_id=2"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493827904500049426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/TD3_XyDaphI/AAAAAAAAAFw/xxxTUqsRvVM/s320/Gonsalves2_orig.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div>Rob Gonsalves (Click on above image to view more of Gonsalves' hand drawn "optical illusions") <a href="http://discoverygalleries.com/ArtistGallery.asp?artist_id=23&category_id=2"></a></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-60440523021223620272010-04-28T12:51:00.000-04:002011-08-16T00:04:12.166-04:00Life Imitating Art<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9hoCjbdOzI/AAAAAAAAAFA/FIckeDQjbRs/s1600/n27309463_32531926_3995.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 213px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465232540893526834" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9hoCjbdOzI/AAAAAAAAAFA/FIckeDQjbRs/s320/n27309463_32531926_3995.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div>Striking resemblance of my brother and the man in the painting behind him. (This picture and painting were taken at Maker's Mark Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.)</div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-29064767565674141362010-04-28T12:28:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:54:54.905-04:00Sky Moods<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9hjtKX_P8I/AAAAAAAAAE4/uGQKOqGQb4I/s1600/2313480750_c242e3181c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465227775344328642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9hjtKX_P8I/AAAAAAAAAE4/uGQKOqGQb4I/s320/2313480750_c242e3181c.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;">Oh to be able to soar<br />High above the clouds.<br />Those all too familiar clouds of November<br />So oppressive as if to imply no hope.<br /><br />Now that I am soaring<br />I long for the comfort the ground provides.<br />I must remain constant in my flight.<br />For the sunlit April skies<br />Fill me with the hope and assurance<br />That all will be well.</span></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-77034151585329246172010-04-28T12:19:00.000-04:002010-04-28T12:21:37.266-04:00Iceland Volcano Eruption<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9hgevxXMqI/AAAAAAAAAEg/FsaXNJtL2hc/s1600/Eruption2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224229149946530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9hgevxXMqI/AAAAAAAAAEg/FsaXNJtL2hc/s320/Eruption2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">Breathtaking view of the recent volcano eruption overlooking a quaint Iceland farm.</span>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-6040445659589427232010-04-28T12:00:00.000-04:002010-09-30T02:16:01.815-04:00Ode to Life's Journey<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9he__rJ5-I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/cMxZ99IXOCs/s1600/Nizovstev_Autumn_Park_3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 384px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465222601331304418" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9he__rJ5-I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/cMxZ99IXOCs/s400/Nizovstev_Autumn_Park_3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Life is not a straight and narrowed path to be journeyed<br />But a labyrinth of passageways<br />With choices leading in opposite directions;<br />With certain paths ending abruptly.<br />These are the paths one must avoid.<br />But Alas!<br />The maze of life provides us with free will;<br />Left or Right, Forwards or Backwards.<br /><br />Where does it end you may ask?<br />Not at some castle wear dragons and princesses await.<br />Forgiveness, Peace of Mind, and Tranquility are our destinations.<br />Listen not to the guidance of creatures that inhabit the labyrinth<br />But let your heart be your guide.<br />Listen to its guiding instructions.<br />Embrace its rhythm and surrender to its will<br /></span> </span>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320427724537395929.post-24661962626046175052010-04-24T20:21:00.000-04:002010-04-24T20:26:06.971-04:00Spring Time in St. Petersburg<a href="http://www.discoverytoo.com/ArtistGallery.asp?artist_id=85&category_id=1"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463864297432276514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZbyJvfSFV4/S9OLoTVj3iI/AAAAAAAAACU/wT40xLx55G8/s320/Nizovstev_SpringTime_StPetersburg.jpg" /></a> Victor Nizovtsev (Click on Above Image to view more of Nizovtsev's amazing work)Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04892859408766903524noreply@blogger.com1