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A Christmas Story (DVD) Review

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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…

24 (Season 3) DVD Review

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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

Winning The Family Weight-Loss Game

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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" (dollarsignr24.95, 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

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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

Want to Marry Rich? Tips On High-Society Dating

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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 dollarsignr500 to over dollarsignr1,000. 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

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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.

Violet the Pilot in France - Review

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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

Violet the Pilot in Canada - Review

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Violet the Pilot in Canada is the first in the series of children’s book series written by commercial pilot and mother of two, Bettina Bathe. In this book, Grandpa Cliff along with young Chantel and Mathias are going on a camping and fishing trip in Ontario, Canada.

Violet the pilot and her trusty animal and insect friends are hired to take the three tourists to their destination in her violet-colored floatplane. Violet teaches her passengers about the floatplane, takes them through initial flight procedures and delivers the tourists safely to their destination. For Violet, safety always comes first as she instructs the tourists how to exit the plane, protect themselves against the damaging sun reflected off the water and more.

Beautifully illustrated scenery with Canadian wildlife tucked into the images here and there will allow for more interest in the pictures. The illustrator, Barbara Fortin, creates an excellent depiction of rural Ontario’s well-known "Cottage Country" area.

Violet the Pilot in Canada 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#: 1-4120-3215-6
Author: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Published: October 2004

Violet the Pilot Children’s Book Series - Review

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Canadian commercial pilot, owner of a publishing company, mother of two and author of the Violet the Pilot children’s book series, Bettina Bathe has a talent and energy for today’s youth. I think this aviation adventure fiction series is appropriate for children aged between three and eight years old.

Her children’s book series focus during one season in one country at a time, though the adventures in each book are widely different and involve a various aircraft. Starting in Canada, Bettina’s main character takes three passengers in a floatplane for a camping/fishing trip during the spring. Her second book has Violet the Pilot taking two young French passengers on a hot-air balloon ride to a site where the pair can start a bike tour adventure and enjoy fall’s beautiful colors. Bettina’s third book in the series is centered on the Hawaiian Islands during the summer season, where two young passengers desire a scenic tour of the islands in Violet’s helicopter. In this book, there is an unexpected adventure when the three were called upon to rescue a stranded baby whale.

These books could be considered educational tools as the illustrator, Barbara Fortin, incorporates well-designed scenery depicting the countryside, wildlife, clothing and food that are found in each country. Bettina uses educational information about aviation and the various aircraft that are used in her books. The use of maps and other interesting images including each country’s flag – will certainly give the reader tools for further interaction with the children.

Clearly, Bettina’s series of children’s books are designed to not only educate children about their world and the various aircraft technology, but are also written with the intention to inspire aviation dreams in young girls. The author’s website (www.violetthepilot.com) offers ongoing contests and awards for readers.

Violet the Pilot in Canada – published October 2004 – ISBN# 1-4120-3215-6
Violet the Pilot in France – published July 2005 – ISBN# 0-9738290-0-1
Violet the Pilot in Hawaii – published January 2006 – ISBN# 0-9738290-1-X

Turn Off the Fat Genes - A Book Review

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Once in a while a good title comes along and "Turn Off the Fat Genes" is one of those titles that just have to be written about. If you are not familiar with Dr. Neal Barnard's work, he has been writing about how to lose weight on a high carbohydrate diet for at least a decade now.

I'm amazed, as you might be, that his work is not better known. There are a number of advantages to using a high carb diet and as many disadvantages to the low carb/ high protein diets.

There is some great research in his books that document the ability to lose weight on a high carbohydrate diet, which may also be healthier in the long run than the ever-popular low carbohydrate diets.

You might think it surprising, as I do, that more people are not using high carb diets to lose weight. You might also conclude that this is solely due to a lack of awareness on the part of the public.

Turn of the Fat Genes, written by Dr. Neal Barnard features over 150 pages of menus and recipes. The recipe and menu section is very comprehensive and you can definitely find recipes that will delight you out of such a large compilation.

Dr. Bernard discusses the concept that some of the genes that shape and influence us as human beings are themselves subject to influence. The genes that affect taste, appetite and metabolism are subject to the influence of the foods that we eat.

Not only are they subject to influence, the proper use of foods can mean that you don't have to sacrifice and starve yourself of decent nutrition. You can modify your diet, eat perhaps even more frequently and still enjoy weight loss. Does that sound incredible? It is real. You might feel incredulous because the masses of people out there have been told that low carb is the way to go.

I have been following some of the suggestions in one of Dr. Barnard's books and I can tell you that a high carb diet can help you lose weight. Using his suggestions, I can eat a lot of food frequently and I still seem to stay thin.

To give you an idea of what kind of information "Turn Off the Fat Genes" can provide you with, here is a list of some of the Chapter titles:

Taste Genes: Broccoli and Chocolate

Appetite and the Leptin Gene

The Fat-Building Gene

Fat-Burning: Turning the Flame Higher

How Genes Influence Your Exercise

Children and the Fat Genes

Food Choices for Optimal Weight Control

Dr. Barnard writes, "Contrary to popular opinion, scientific research reveals that genes are not dictators; they are committees. They do not give orders. They make suggestions. Genes are not rogue tyrants exerting despotic control over your waistline. Rather, they work in groups, often with subtle effects, and you can nudge them in the direction you want them to go. You can counteract the fat genes and boost your thin genes."

In ancient times, Hippocrates said, "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." Of course we aren't really talking about healing as much as we are discussing losing weight, but the principle applies.

One thing I learned from another of Dr. Barnard's books is that carbohydrates don't make people fat. It is fat that makes people fat. And it makes sense. Carbohydrates pack around 4 calories per gram and fats have about 9 calories per gram.

By the way, even though it is correct terminology, the fact is that the calories discussed here are actually 'thousands of calories'. In nutrition they decided to make a calorie equal to 1,000 real life calories as measured for energy.

Anyway I don't want to confuse anyone, because the RDA is based on nutrition calories, also known as Calories, but no one capitalizes the C as should be done. You can just keep thinking of calories as calories and don't worry about the technicalities.

Back to the story. Dr. Barnard's books on high carb diets are great reading and may inform you about healthier weight loss than you are currently use to. Did I mention the recipe list?

This article is for information purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or prevent any health condition. If you have or think you have a health condition or even just want to diet, please consult your physician.

The Smart Patient's Handbook For Getting The Best Treatment

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Take it from those in the know-two of America's best-known doctors and the Joint Commission, watchdog for quality and safety of health care in America-there are steps you can take to make sure you get the very best medical treatment possible.

Dr. Michael F. Roizen is a practicing anesthesiologist at the Cleveland Clinic and founder of RealAge.com. Dr. Mehmet C. Oz is a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon at New York Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center.

Together, these doctors have joined with Joint Commission Resources to create "You: The Smart Patient: An Insider's Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment," a new book that shows how every patient can take charge of his or her own health care and get the best treatment available.

The book gives readers clear, definitive information on such topics as creating a health profile, choosing the right doctors and hospitals, avoiding medication errors, preventing infections, understanding prescription drugs, working with doctors to safely use alternative treatments, and helping a loved one by being his or her health care advocate.

Here are a few useful tips from the book:

" Stick to the facts. Patients often give doctors too little pertinent information and many distracting off-topic details. The first sign of a smart patient is a health profile. To create a health profile, find the sample form in the book labeled "Your Health Journal" or fill one out online at www.jcrinc.com and www.RealAge.com.

" Have a tattle plan. Bring your spouse to the doctor's appointment. There are questions he or she may be able to answer that you can't.

" Find Dr. Right. One of the most important decisions you will ever make is choosing your doctor. To find a great doctor, ask the ER nurse-manager at the best local hospital. A nurse in the intensive care unit is also a good choice. These registered nurses get a battlefield view of doctors at their best and worst.

" Go board-certified. The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes 24 areas of medical specialty including anesthesiology, cardiology, internal medicine and pediatrics. You can search for board-certified physicians at www.abms.org or call (866) 275-2267.

" Case your hospital. To find the best hospital for you-whether it's a small community hospital, a hospital in your rural area or a large teaching hospital-go for an accredited hospital listed on the Joint Commission's Web site at www.jointcommission.org. Joint Commission accreditation is the Gold Seal of Approval for a hospital-and that's what you want. The Joint Commission also evaluates ambulatory clinics, home health agencies, home medical equipment companies, nursing homes, laboratories and behavioral health care facilities.

" Know your hospital's numbers. Research has shown that for several common operations, hospitals that perform a specific number or more of that operation every year have better success rates. Your surgeon should be able to give you this info, as should the hospital's information line.

" Make a new "phriend." Your pharmacist is the least expensive and most accessible health resource you have. Smart patients develop a personal relationship with a pharmacist, which makes it easier to ask questions.

" Insist on being scanned. In the hospital, have staff check your hospital ID bracelet before they give you any medication, take blood or wheel you off for a test. If your hospital uses a bar-code scanner on ID bracelets, insist they scan you every time.

" Do you know how fast your ER treats heart cases? What is their average time for getting heart attack patients into surgery? Hospitals are required to document their times.

The Seventh Jewel - Book Review

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The Seventh Jewel is a fantasy-adventure fiction geared for youth (ages 11 and up). J.J. Pritchard crammed several tantalizing elements in only 278 pages. The reader is taken on a journey that involves a treasure hunt, a noble quest and the discovery of an ancient civilization. The author touches upon family relationships, dealing with death and coming to terms with loosing a limb. The Seventh Jewel is also an educational book that brings up serious issues from poverty to discrimination. Mr. Pritchard’s approach to encourage readers to use his glossary of the ancient Inca language was very well done.

J.J. Pritchard, author of 6 books including The Seventh Jewel, has participated in a climbing expedition in Peru. His first hand knowledge of Peru, global warming and ancient Inca history is shown by tasteful and accurate use of facts. He couples this with highly plausible events throughout the story, making this book very well rounded, unique and realistic.

There are four main characters: Emma, a gutsy and witty teenage amputee, teaches the reader understanding and respect for what amputees experience. I think she could be a role model for many readers. Joel, her brave 11-year-old brother, displays a loyal adventurous heart. Uncle Jake, a well-connected treasure hunter by trade, plays the part of a hero and protector during a few points in the story. Estrella, a beautiful professor, has a chip on her shoulder that begins to melt when she meets Uncle Jake. Her life long dream is to honor her people by discovering the mysterious jewel of the Ancient Inca.

They are all thrown together when scientists discover that knowledge of an extremely rare element may exist in the ancient records of the Inca. This element has the potential to combat global warming and it is worth an inconceivable amount of money. Because of this value, people of questionable character are attracted to treasure hunt – but they play by their own rules and answer to their own ethics.

The Seventh Jewel was an exceptional read. I highly encourage readers to pick up a copy of J.J. Pritchard’s latest book. You won’t be disappointed!

ISBN#: 0595336744   
Author: J. J. Pritchard    
Publisher: iUniverse

The Right Words

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When Marlo Thomas was an 18-year-old up-and-coming actress, she was devastated when journalists began debating whether she'd ever be as good or popular as her famous father, TV star Danny Thomas. She went to him in tears, insisting that she wanted to change her name.

"I raised you to be a thoroughbred," Danny told his daughter. "They wear blinders and run their own race. That's what you have to do: run your own race."

That single comment inspired Thomas' wildly popular 2002 best-seller, "The Right Words at the Right Time," a collection of first-person stories about the power of words by such icons as Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey.

After the book's release, people from across the country approached Marlo to share their own "right words" stories. The result is Thomas' new book, "The Right Words at the Right Time, Vol. 2: Your Turn!" (Atria Books, dollarsignr25), a moving collection of 101 unforgettable stories in which everyday Americans recall the pivotal moment in their lives when words made all the difference.

Like the tale of a Gulf War veteran, whose life was transformed by two words spoken to him by a young stranger at Burger King. Or the aimless mechanic, who found salvation in a Help Wanted ad. Or the bereaved fiancé of a 9-11 victim, who found hope in a note left by a schoolgirl, pinned to a teddy bear.

Royalties from sales will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was founded by Danny Thomas.

The revival of the audio book.

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A short history of the audio book

In 1920 the Royal National Institute for the Blind in England was allready doing research on how to create audio books for the blind. At that time there were a lot of ex World War 1 soldiers who had gone blind as a result of the fighting. In 1926 the RNIB started to use LP’s to record audio books which could be played on record players (the kind with the big horn, you had to swing a handel a couple of times befor it would play).

In 1936 the “Talking Book Service” was launched.The first two books were:’The murder of Roger Ackroyd’ by Agatha Christie and Joseph Conrad’s ‘Thyphoon’. The records used at the time could hold 25 minutes of spoken tekst, so they needed about 10 records for an average audio book.

In 1940 the studio used by the RNIB was bombed, and one month later a replacement studio was bombed as wel.The RNIB wanted to start publishing audio books again, but they needed certain materials which had been destroyed.

In America, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), had started producing audio books as wel, and they did send the much needed parts to help their English counterparts. Unfortunatly the shipment got lost during a bombing raid of the London harbour! A second shipment however did make it, and the RNIB was able to start again with the production of audio books.

In the sixties the audio books started to appear on casettes, and later, after the infention of the compact disk player, on CD’s.

Nowadays the audio books have become more are popular then ever befor, in spite of their age. One of the main reasons for their ever growing popularity is the fact that audio books can be downloaded straight from the Internet. There are a good few audio book publishers who provide this service, and it looks like their on to a winner.

Audio books, more then 70 years old and still gowing strong.

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

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It has taken me decades – literally – to finally pick up another C.S. Lewis book and read it. In high school I read Lewis’ book, “That Hideous Strength” and completely missed Lewis’ message. One decade later I read Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and fully understood what Lewis was saying. With The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, part of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series, the gospel message is clearly made evident in an allegorical/mystical style. Lewis used the Narnia series to explain Christ’s love for humankind to children, who are the series’ principal readers.

This first novel in a series of seven books is currently a major motion picture now completing a successful run on theatre screens across the U.S. I have yet to see the movie, a Disney production, but I understand that it holds very true to Lewis’ storyline. I expect to see the movie before it leaves theatres later this month; it will become available on DVD this April.

Back to the story! The theme of “The Lion” centers around four children, the Pevensie siblings, who get caught up in a land of magic. Entering “Narnia” through a wardrobe [a tall cabinet that holds clothes] — located in a home where they are boarding — the children enter a land where it is always winter, but never Christmas. Under the spell of the White Witch, Narnia is forever in the grip of evil. The land is occupied by talking animals [beavers, for one], spirits, goblins, sprites, but no humans. That is until Lucy Pevensie shows up followed by her brother Edmund and, later, Susan and Peter.

Quite obviously the White Witch a/k/a the Queen of Narnia is most interested in humans so she resorts to all sorts of magic and trickery to lure them in. Edmund, the most impressionable of the siblings, is quickly captivated by the White Witch and then sets out to betray the others.

Without giving away the storyline, the theme of Narnia clearly reflects the captivity of this present world under Satan, but its past and future deliverance through Jesus Christ. In the form of a lion, Aslan, Lewis brings a savior to Narnia who eventually releases the land from its winter grip and vanquishes the White Witch.

For those unfamiliar with the gospel message, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe may be hard to follow. However, Lewis wrote the book in 1950 immediately after the horrors of Word War II and with the Nazi air battle for London fresh in the minds of British citizenry. Lewis may have been responding to a strong spiritual hunger of his time when he wrote the series as “Narnia” successfully points seekers to Aslan, much as the Bible points readers to Jesus Christ.

I am not sure if I will read the remaining six books in this series, but I am definitely interested in exploring several other writings of Lewis.

C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams were contemporaries who were a part of a group of writers and intellectuals known as The Inklings who met during the 1930s and 1940s at a public house in Oxford. Tolkien, like Lewis, used Christian allegory in many of his writings including, The Lord of the Rings, another series of books that was recently released as a major motion picture.

Clearly, the renewed interest in C.S. Lewis’ works is a positive step especially for a generation of children not familiar with the gospel message. Disney, for their part, is interested in developing the remaining six books of the series into individual movies. So, expect Narniamania – as some have called it – to continue unabated for many years to come.