The Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, was born with a pea-green skin and is considered to be smartest but misunderstood Witch of The Land of Oz. In contrast to her, Glinda the Good Witch is a ravishing and somewhat snooty witch of the region( and not quite what you would expect). Both girls meet in the Land of Oz as the most spectacular musical of the year, "Wicked", begins. Check out the details of wicked tickets here, and get hold of cheap wicked tickets now.
Wicked is based on one of the best selling novels, "Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witches of the West", written by Gregory Maguire. Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at the land of the Oz the same way again. In many ways, it's a contemporised', satirical commentary on Oz. Ignoring the obvious ones like a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens. Or the short Munchkins who seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man who becomes a victim of domestic violence. We focus on the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked witch is a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. The story grows more interesting and to enhance your interest, we have some hot seats for you in all theaters. Get discount on wicked tickets for all theaters hosting this play. We have tickets for wicked that you are looking for. Whether you are looking for tickets for wicked in Chicago, wicked tickets Pittsburgh, wicked Kennedy center tickets, wicked Boston tickets, wicked tickets Denver or simply looking for broadway tickets for wicked, in that case, you are at the best site that offers wicked discount tickets for all theaters.
An astonishingly rich re-creation of the Land of Oz, this book retells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn't so wicked after all. Taking readers past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Wicked just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature. Check out the details of wicked tickets Chicago and buy the wicked Broadway tickets now. Also check out: we offer you Houston, TX tickets to any wicked performance. Wicked has enthralled millions of spectators in every theater, if you want to be one of them, than buy tickets to Wicked now, and be a part of the crowd. Moreover, we offer half Price Wicked tickets to our customers. Purchase tickets to wicked to any theater in your area or get hold of a wicked tickets Broadway to watch the engrossing performance.
Maguire's story begins with a moral about understanding and appreciating differences among people and then becomes a cautionary tale of people in power creating monster villains to distract from their own misdeeds. In the course of the story, he shows that what is a monster to some is a humble, self-sacrificing hero to others. "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too" is what we all remember from the movie. Wicked twists this tag line, and manages to change our perspective. It is hard not to fall in love with Elphaba, and not start dreading her fate. A fate that we all know well from the movie!
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The Wicked fairytale is brought to life by the Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz's music and lyrics and the musical staging by the Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento. The direction of, by 2003 and 2004 Tony Award winner, Joe Mantello, has made the Wicked one of the spectacular plays of the year. Wicked Tickets are in high demand!
With a cast led by Broadway legend Ben Vereen, TV icon Rue McClanahan and breakthrough stars Shoshana Bean and Megan Hilty, there's never been a better time to visit the Emerald City! The twists and turns in Gregory Maguire's incredibly imaginative back-story to ‘The Wizard of Oz' makes the audiences literally gasp with delight. But not only that, Wicked is a truly heartfelt story of friendship and love. As Richard Zoglin of ‘Time Magazine' put it, "If every musical had a brain, a heart and the courage of Wicked, Broadway really would be a magical place!"
The plot focuses on the witches of Oz prior to Dorthy's arrival from Kansas. The Wizard (Joel Grey) believes in "The Big Lie" and he practices what he preaches, making everyone believe that the show's heroine, the Wicked Witch of the West, is evil. Wicked is an ambitious musical intended to satisfy both adults and children, with strong themes in a surprisingly complex book by Winnie Holzman. Throwaway lines that get big laughs are peppered throughout the script.
The scenery and costumes of the Wicked spring forth in fairytale colors, allowing children to enjoy the show also. Parents can enjoy the comical dialogue and masterful lyrics. The fairytale is complete with cameos by the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, while The Wizard, acts as the catalyst that ultimately turns the former friends into the witches that they become. The process of bringing "Wicked" to stage was no easy engineering feat. Costing 14 million dollar, the play's production involved over 150 people and took almost two years to become a reality. Built in Calgary, Ontario the show's complex set took over a year and a half to design and had to travel over 1,500 miles to the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.
Wicked the musical is not wicked the novel. While the novel is its source, the musical presents only pieces of it, in a much simplified form, and often diverging wildly from the novel's narrative. One might be tempted to think all this destroys the work; but in the end it enhances it. Wicked the musical puts the spot light on the story's numerous ironies and interlaced levels of social commentary. The fiesta continues for 2 hour 30 minutes of utter magnificence. You can't bear to blink your eye during the whole gala, for fear of missing some of Wicked's glory!
Fans of Gregory Maguire's novel "Wicked" may criticize the changes made by stage adapter Winnie Holzman. She finds a way to send Elphaba and Fiyero into a bittersweet sunset together, and she establishes several reference points to the familiar ‘Wizard of Oz' film that are not in the Maguire book. But most theatergoers will find Wicked well worth the big ticket price. It's an astoundingly good show that puts its politics front-and-center, all wrapped up in a big, entertaining package. A pre-Broadway run was opened in San Francisco at the start of 2003. It was not appreciated very well by the locals. In the original cast, Idiana Menzel acted as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda and Robert Morse played the role of The Wizard. With extensive significant changes, it was reopened later that year at Gershwin Theatre in New York. Morse was replaced by Joel Gray. There were assorted reviews initially but the general mood became a lot more appreciative. The tide completely turned when "Wicked" got the acclaim it really deserved. Wicked was nominated for ten Tony Awards, including the award for the best Musical. Menzel got the award of the Best Actress in a Musical. The cast also nabbed a Grammy Award for the Best Musical Show Album.
This fantasy-filled musical was the winner of three 2004 Tony Awards including prizes for Best Costume Design and Best Scenic Design. Wicked also had the privilege of being the winner of 2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Award! The uphill effort and zealous exertion of Joe Mantello has made Wicked a true spectacle for the eyes and ears! The popularity of this musical result in long lines to buy Wicked show tickets! The only element of the production that isn't consistently first class is Schwartz's songs. The tunes are a mixed bag, with several bland and forgettable power ballads included with his more distinctive and finely crafted songs. Most of the music rides on the same middling tempos, and little stands out melodically.
"Wicked" earned back its entire initial investment by December 21, 2004. In its first year it grossed more than 56 million dollar. The show has been playing to capacity crowds for almost every recent performance and grosses more than a million dollars every week. The show had a 14 million dollar capitalization. The show set out for extensive national touring in 2005. Successful tours were made to Toronto, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Los Angles, Fort Lauderdale and Hartford. In late June of 2005 a permanent production of "Wicked" separate from the national tour, opened at Chicago's Oriental Theatre with an open-ended run. "Wicked" will be the first show in decades to run on a permanent basis simultaneously on Broadway and in Chicago's North Loop theatre district. The show also has a heart, a brain, and the nerve to have opened on Broadway. Wicked is a must see show.
Wicked co-producer David Stone reported that the show, which plays the 1,800-seat Gershwin Theatre, had a 26 million-dollar advance. "The advance and the weekly grosses are now higher than they have ever been," said Stone. The musical took in 1,196,658 dollar more than any show on Broadway! No surprise, given it's popularity among the literati and the glitterati. And the relative difficulty in obtaining tickets. Don't forget that we are offering cheapest wicked tickets online, providing you with an opportunity to get hold of broadway tickets to wicked in your own city. Also check out wicked Dallas tickets, wicked tickets Houston, wicked tickets Toronto, tickets to wicked in St. Louis, wicked tickets Florida, wicked tickets Atlanta, GA, or even if you are looking for cheap tickets to wicked in Denver, we have got that for you as well.
The fall of this year is fully loaded by "Wicked" shows all over the United States. Atlanta, Saint Louis, Dallas, Hartford, Tampa, Denver and San Francisco are some of the metropolitan areas where people are looking forward to see one of the most popular shows of the year. The Canadian fans too are really anxious to witness such an astonishing fiesta. Most of the fans have already booked their "Wicked the Musical Tickets". What? You haven't got a ticket yet? Then what are you waiting for? Order at Ticket Nest for the discounted wicked tickets and have the flavor of the memory that will last a lifetime! Wicked is being played all over American theater. But no matter where you are, we have tickets to wicked for you. Check out the details as we offer Wicked tickets in Chicago, Denver wicked tickets, wicked tickets New York, wicked tickets in Houston, as well as Wicked tickets Boston in our magic box.
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Deaths in The News Wire reports
Elizabeth Post, an etiquette expert known for writing books and magazine columns on manners, has died. She was 89.
The Power Of One:
Get set for an unforgetable adventure featuring all-new Pokeman! An ancient legend comes true when pokemon Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres are disturbed after centuries of harmony. As the very forces of nature come unbalanced, life on earth depends on the unlikly teaming of the mythical Pokemon Lugia and a mystertios "chosen one" foretold in the legend...
An Anglo builder (Matthew Perry) from New York and a Mexican-American photographer (Salma Hayek) from Las Vegas have a date, get pregnant, and then get married in a particularly rocky union made worse by the presence of in-laws from both sides...
There was some amazing, classic animation done for superhero cartoons done as far back as Max & Dave Fleisher's Superman series of the early 1940s (echoes of which can be found in Batman: The Animated Series)...
Brash, fast-paced, and hysterically funny, the Warner Brothers cartoons rank among the undisputed treasures of American animation and American comedy. This second collection, a follow-up to Looney Tunes: Golden Collection, includes such gems as "Porky in Wackyland," "A Bear for Punishment," "Gee Whiz-z-z," The Great Piggy Bank Robbery," and "I Love to Singa...
The venerable Superman mythos gets a 21st-century updating in this imaginative and engaging television series from the WB Network, and series fans can celebrate the ratings success of Smallville with a six-disc set that compiles its entire first season...
The Greatest Films
Bill Gibron is a veteran film critic from Tampa, Florida. Stomp the Yard director Sylvain White envelopes his jokey Vertigo/DC Comic book adaptation The Losers in such old school '80s ideals that you half expect Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Chuck Norris to show up and start cracking wise.
Marvel superheroes have charmed children as well as adults the whole world over. Marvel comics have created superheroes that we have looked up to and so will our children and our children’s children. Most of these superheroes have not only been depicted in the comic books but have since moved on to TV shows as well as the big screen.
Superheroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Giant Man, Black Panther and the other Avengers have given positive messages to how we can save our planet as well as how we can grow up being patriotic to our country. Other superheroes that from marvel such as the X-Men have shown us how hard it is to grow up when you are different and have shown us how indifference is a bad thing and that people are scared of what is different from them. Basically most of marvel superhero comic books and cartoons have messages and are just plain fun to read.
Several Marvel Superheroes have gone on to become big merchandise for the company such as the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, Blade, Daredevil and not forgetting Electra. Superhero action figures as well as plain figurines have been created by the Marvel group for children to play with as well as for keeping if you are a collector. If you are interested in buying the collector items of Marvel superheroes you can always find them online, where you will also find the new and old comics as well as movies and DVDs.
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Peter Gitundu Researches And Reports On Comics. For More Information On Marvel Superheroes, Visit His Site At MARVEL SUPERHEROES
Is Marvel unintentionally devaluing their comic books?
They've gotten rid of a lot of their top-notched artists. They're printing and reprinting a lot of their comic books nowadays. In addition, they just started this new digital/online comic book campaign. Will doing all this devalue the comic books they're selling today?
Marvel doesn't concern itself with the value of it's older issues. They make no money when people sell the issues between each other after they buy it from Marvel in the first place.
But the answer is no. Old comics which are rare will always be rare. People want Amazing Spider-Man #1 no matter how many times it's been reprinted. The value of those older, truly rare comics goes up every year without fail. The value of modern comics will go down regardless of whether or not they're reprinted, because value in older comics comes from rarity, and there's nothing rare about modern comics with print runs in the tens or hundreds of thousands when everyone buying them keeps them. The old comics are rare and collectable because people didn't use to keep them around, they threw them away.
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The race row that just won't leave the Nordic gods in peace
EVEN for an actor who has played a vampire-hunter with a guilty conscience, a Baltimore crime lord with a taste for Adam Smith, and an asset manager with a stalker, the role of the Norse deity Heimdall - the guardian of the burning rainbow bridge between the world of men and the world of gods - was always going to be a challenge.
Comedian Tells What It's Like to Perform in a War Zone
Comedian Don Barnhart tells what it takes to make the soldiers laugh in a dangerous setting like a war zone.
My name is Don Barnhart and I am a professional stand up comedian. What do I mean by ‘professional’? Well, what I mean is that I have been fortunate enough to make a comfortable living travelling the world making people laugh which should answer the follow up question that yes, I actually am very funny. I’ve been on a few TV shows and appeared in some movies. If you’re a rabid fan of comedy, you might recognize me as I tour over 250 days a year but I’m not quite up there in the celebrity status the likes of Jim Carrey, Robin Williams or Jerry Seinfeld but I’m right behind them.
Since 1992, I have also tried to spend several weeks a year entertaining the military troops stationed overseas. I’ve done this during peacetime and during times of war and everywhere I go people ask what it’s like to perform in a dangerous setting like Afghanistan or Iraq so here is my story.
First and foremost, I consider it an honour and privilege to be asked to come over and entertain the troops. As I said before, I’m extremely fortunate to able to make a living doing what I love and I feel we all have an obligation as an American citizen to support our troops in the best way we know how even if you object to the war itself.
The reason I started doing ‘my part’ is that it’s part of my work-release program and I only have 30 more hours of community service then I’m done! (Just kidding, that was a joke.) Seriously, the men and women in the military defend America and all of her Freedoms and I’m able to make a great living using those Freedoms. I also feel it’s important to support the troops in any way you know how. If I knew how to bake cookies, I would do that and send over a care package but I’m much better at telling jokes so I go there and entertain, shake hands and thank the men and women who serve our country. It’s both emotionally and physically tough but there is such an immense sense of pride I feel when I get to do my part and be part of the team. But honestly, I kinda feel like I’m the least significant person out there. I kinda feel like the water boy on the super bowl team.
The whole reason I started doing military shows goes back to mid, 1992. I went through a bitter divorce after I found out my wife was ‘dating again’. (A joke but not really a joke) I took off to Europe to find myself (actually to get as far away as possible from everyone I knew or that knew me and my ‘situation’). Anyway, while I was doing shows throughout Sweden I found myself sitting in a cold, dark and gloomy smoke filled café feeling sorry for myself and I looked out the window and noticed a sign for the USO. I finished my cappuccino and trudged across the snow-lined street and went in. I starting asking if they would be interested in a comedy show as I had a whole lot of free time and nothing to do so they gave me the main info and I sent in my demo and next thing I know, I’m on a plane heading to war torn Bosnia with the Gin Blossoms and 49 Cheerleaders.
Each show is different and it really depends on who’s booking it and for the bigger shows with celebrities and bands they need a lot of lead-time. For them, it’s a much bigger production and the logistics are a nightmare as they have sound equipment, staff, costumes, gear and who knows what else. For one celebrity, the tour never manifested, as she wanted a four-star hotel and limo for her Afghanistan concert. She didn’t get it. We’re there on a military base in the middle of a war and not on the beach on the French Rivera. Anyway, she went in to rehab the following month so she never did make the tour.
For groups like Comics On Duty who specialize in just comedy shows, it’s much easier and we can be prepared to go at the drop of a hat but on the average a few months lead time is the best. With comedy, it’s much easier to change venues, add shows and adjust to the constantly changing conditions on the ground. When it is just comedians, we try to add shows whenever we can on a tour and we try and get out to the troops that really need it the most. We’ve added shows in hangers with no sound gear, on flight decks, flat beds, in front of a land-mine field. It all pretty non-glamorous.
Performing for the troops is different than performing at a regular comedy club in the states and once you’ve done a few tours, you are bonded with the soldiers and there truly is certain sense of camaraderie and understanding. Underlying the shows is an awareness that at any second, we might have to scramble and be caught in a firefight. We might have to run for cover or return fire. So even though I’m in the middle of a joke, my senses are on full alert. Once when I was in the middle of show I heard a huge explosion just outside and I dropped to the floor for cover and the crowd roared with laughter, as this was a ‘normal’ sound to them. I just about wet my pants but I was now part of the team. I’m there to get laughs whether it’s something I say or something I did, I’m there to entertain. I don’t flinch as much but I’m still fully aware to all the external sounds and surroundings when I’m performing over there.
The reason we come over is to entertain and show our support and to let them know how much we care about them and the job they are doing…how much we respect them and I think they have a certain respect for us coming over there. We’re all in it together as we eat the same food and have to deal with the same amenities. If there’s no hot water, then there is no hot water for everybody and sometimes it’s MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) for weeks at a time.
The troops are so accommodating to us and go out of their way to make us feel at home. We were doing shows in the Persian Gulf and getting choppered from ship to ship and a really bad storm came up and they were going to cancel a show because if we flew in, we would have to overnight on the ship but there was no place to put us up and the guys on the ship offered to give us there cots and they would sleep on the floor just so their ship wouldn’t miss getting some entertainment.
The real difference between a so-called ‘regular’ audience and performing for the troops is that by far, the troops are the best audiences ever. There really is no comparison. These men and women are putting their lives on the line each and every day and they don’t have time to laugh if it isn’t funny. They’re honest in what they like and don’t like and that makes you a sharper comic. In the states, people can go out on a date have dinner and a few drinks and if you don’t like the show, you can always leave and go do something else. When you’re entertaining the troops, the show may be the only new thing they get for months at a time so you have to bring your ‘A’ game and be on top of it. That’s why it so important to bring the best headlining comics and not a bunch of amateurs over here. To give the troops an inferior product really makes my blood boil. There are several agencies that are booking comedy shows, pocketing the money then sending really unprofessional and amateur shows over here. That’s why I started booking my own shows and tours. The comics I use are all headlining comics that you’ll see at the top comedy clubs in the nation and on TV. You won’t see them at an open mic night. You also have to be a headlining act to do well over here as you might have to switch up your act based on the logics and sensitivities of what’s going on that day…or you might have to follow a celebrity act Kid Rock or Tim Allen. After doing so many tours, I also created and host a new TV show called, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Series featuring all the great comics that have come over to do military shows. It’s ironic; when you say Freedom of Speech everything automatically thinks it’s a dirty show. Freedom of Speech also means the freedom of thought and the concept of the show is that we let the comics loose to do whatever they want. Some might be a bit dirty, some political but the goal is it has to be funny. The website for the show is www.thechucklehut.com
At first, I really didn’t understand the direct and positive impact doing shows for the troops had on their morale. It’s the greatest feeling after a show when everyone is coming up to thank us for entertaining them. We are there doing our shows to show our gratitude to them! At the end of one show, the colonel brought all the comics up on stage to present us with a certificate of appreciation and their coin and all the men and women stood up and saluted us in thanks. It literally brought all four comics to tears. We couldn’t believe how grateful these young men and women were to us for coming over while we were there to show our thanks to them. It’s why I keep doing these tours over and over again.
The comedy shows are something to talk about, it breaks up the routine and monotony and laughter truly is the best medicine. Remember, some of these men and women over here haven’t been home in a long time and we’re the closest things to being home as we do get to leave. I truly feel that these men and women are my family and my job is to make them laugh and forget their troubles, sorrows and hardships for a little while. I’ve seen the toughest looking soldier laugh so hard he had tears rolling down his checks and after the show, everyone said that guy never even smiles. He came up after the show and gave me a bear hug that almost broke my rib cage but it was great to see him laughing.
Let’s face it. It’s not always easy being away from your family and friends in a war zone. We all know the dangers and possibilities. It’s sort of an unspoken truth but it also creates and underlying tension and some people have a hard time dealing with it. On one recent tour, we had a chaplain travel with us and he sat in the front row every show. It was a bit unsettling at first but then he explained that if the soldiers could see him laughing at even some of the questionable material that maybe he was approachable to their needs and problems and that he was just a regular guy. It was great because we included him in the show and pointed him out, teased him a bit but letting everyone know him by face. Sure enough, several days after I got back I received a letter from him telling us what a difference it made and that it really opened up a dialogue of communication for him and some of the soldiers. We’re all a part of the same team.
You might think it’s difficult to get laughter from soldiers that are face with war, destruction and horrific conditions but it’s not. As long as you’re funny! Comedy has always been a pressure relief valve and it lets the tension out before you snap. The more uncomfortable the situation, the more tension there is and the more you need to release that tension before something breaks. We’ve all been in those really high-pressure situations. Even as a child when your parents told you to go to bed and keep quite or you’ll be in trouble and then you can’t contain your own laughter. Or on your wedding day when you’re about to take your vows and then start crackin’ up. My wife and I both started giggling but that also brought us closer together. As for entertaining the troops, there is no room for mediocre comics at this point. It is a tense situation and I’ve seen really bad comics loose the crowd. This is why you have to be so picky when putting a show together. We’re grunting it out just like the troops so you can’t have any prima-dona entertainers running around crying because they couldn’t get their eight hours of sleep and mid-day brunch.
Being funny in an environment that represents the ravages of destruction can be a bit intimidating at first. I was planning on wearing Depends the first time I came over. Seriously though, at first it’s truly rattling and unsettling but the soldiers go so far out of their way to make you feel at home and after a short while it’s time to ‘step up’. If they can be here and live under these difficult conditions, then so can I. Although, it’s not for everybody. It takes a strong person to be here both as a soldier and a comedian. There is a lot of pressure but that’s why it’s so important to be the best at what you do. It’s pretty nerve racking to hear explosions going off when your trying to deliver your punchline or have sirens whaling and planes taking off but you sort of get used to it. It sure makes going back to the states and auditioning for some big agent a lot easier. The last audition I had, they commented that I seemed so relaxed and unlike all the other actors. I told them I just got back from Afghanistan where mortars were going off and there was a missile attack during the middle of my show…and no, they weren’t shooting at me because of my act. (laughing)
For the most part, there really isn’t any way to research the idiosyncrasies associated with doing shows in ‘the field’. It’s sort of a trial by fire and it’s hard to explain it to a new comic, as you really just have to do it to understand. You just immerse yourself into it and figure it out. The variables are always changing and the only thing you can count on is something is always changing so you have to really be able to roll with it. Sometimes there’s no sound gear or lights, sometimes the audience is standing in 120 degree heat with the sun in their eyes and they can’t even see you, sometimes you’re wearing your flac jacket and helmet, sometimes you doing a show in a tent for 6 guys that look like they haven’t seen a shower or razor or fresh meat in months…it’s just really such a unique experience that you have to see it for yourself. Every tour that I’ve done there is always something memorable. Even the comics that have toured overseas have a bond with each other. Oh, you’ve been to Afghanistan or Iraq, UAE, Dubai or Saudi? There is a certain amount of respect we give each other for doing these tours as well. At the end of the day, we’re just a bunch of goofballs who are fortunate to make a living telling jokes but there is a respect among those of us who choose to do these shows.
It’s important to be able to edit on the fly and tailor your act to fit your surroundings. The military are not allowed to discuss certain topics and it’s important to know how far you can take a joke. We’ve done shows all around the world and each location is different. The irony here is that America is based on Freedom but with Freedom comes a huge amount of responsibility. You can talk about anything you want but if you cross the line, you will certainly lose the crowd so you better know what you’re doing. With this in mind, we have to take in consideration that we are invited guests in many countries that are very different than what we are used to and it’s important to remember that as a guest, we need to respect the cultural differences and traditions of our host nations.
It’s also important to be very aware of what conflicts are going on within the soldier’s lives as well. Almost any topic is open but with anything tragic, a certain amount of time must pass to be able to ‘find the funny’ in something. If something has just happened, it’s probably not wise to try and joke about it until some time has passed. It might be too raw. Often times we get local dignitaries coming to the shows to see what comedy really is. I think that’s great because so many people are not allowed to speak up and be critical of their government where in America you can talk about our political leaders and make fun of them. However, if it’s not funny, yikes! The crowd will turn on you. My rule is, as a guest, you don’t go to someone’s home and start breaking dishes and kicking their pets and the same is true with comedy. Know your crowd and be respectful while still pushing the boundaries.
Most of my topics are about my everyday life and I bring a lot of my military tour’s experiences into the show, as there’s a common bond. You also have to read the crowd. Are they young or old, are they the dignitaries or higher ups and you have to call your show as it’s going on. I’m constantly editing in my head. Did this joke work? If it did, I’ll go to this bit or if it didn’t I’ll switch it up. That’s where an amateur will get into trouble as he/she only has a small amount of material and they’re going to do it whether the crowd likes it or not. That’s why it’s so important to get rid of these smaller agencies that are sending what I like to call comedy rejects over here. They get a contract and then pay some lame ass comic that can’t get work in the states a few bucks and the agent pockets the rest. It’s comedic profiteering and it really makes my blood boil.
My material comes out of my life so it’s not uncommon for my field experiences to become a part of my regular show.Crowds at home really want to know what’s going on outside what they see on the news. People come up after every show and want to know all about my tours. They ask how the troops are and what’s it like over there? They are really concerned and interested in how our soldiers are doing. I kinda feel like the middleman exchanging pleasantries back and forth.
The logistics of actually getting overseas ranges from the simple to the most complex.
For most tours, we fly the main leg of the trip commercial then it’s time to ‘soldier up’. On one trip, our commercial flight had problems and we got diverted to Russia but we couldn’t leave the airport for almost twenty-four hours till another plane was ready. We all felt like Tom Hanks in that movie where he’s stranded at the airport. Once we are ‘in country’, we are pretty much considered in the military and get to ride like the troops but if there is an emergency, then all personnel and equipment are diverted and we sit on the sidelines till all is secure. We do get a security briefing, which is much more than a handshake and bottle of water. They want us to be as prepared as they are in the event of an emergency and depending on the venue the amount of briefing varies. Let’s just say, we’re trained and ready for combat should the need arise. I truly have never felt safer than when I am with the troops. We’ve done so many odd venues. We did a show if front of a land mine field, Saddam’s palace, and a coliseum in Greece, on a flatbed, in the mud and in the rain. The great thing about comedy shows is that we can go almost anywhere unlike a band or another type of group that need instruments, sound gear, lights and more than a few people to pull it off. I was on one tour that was under lockdown so the band couldn’t perform with all their lights and sound so we just did a makeshift show in the dark telling jokes to the soldiers. With comedy, we can adjust to just about any situation. We don’t need a sound check, just turn on the mic and let’s go and if we don’t have a mic, then we do it the old fashioned way and project to the back of the room.
As for the unpleasantries of war, I have seen more than I would have ever wanted to that’s for sure but it’s not nearly as much as the men and women serving our country. It’s not something that I, or most soldiers care to discuss or share. If you’ve been there, you know and if you haven’t then it’s probably best not to ask someone who has been there what they’ve seen. War is hell and the details can lead to judgement. It’s hard enough returning home without reliving the horrors. There is a common sense of what you should and shouldn’t do or talk about We are all a part of the same team so it’s important to know your boundaries. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to pull a “Heraldo” by going on the news, draw a map and say, “Look everyone, I’m right here and we’re sneaking up on the bad guys”.
With that in mind, the first time I went overseas was to Bosnia during some very tough political times. We were on alert from snipers 24/7. Much like Hilary but without the publicity. It really showed me the good and bad side of doing these tours and confirmed for me how important these shows are to the men and women serving our country. When you’re under fire, the mundane annoyance of everyday life really doesn’t matter, as you truly have to live in and for the moment. This is why the troops really get a kick out of the comedy shows. There is not much laughter and enjoyment in their life during an active war so they cherish what little they have.
Since then, I’ve tried to do several tours each year. Some years, I’ve done seven or eight tours and each one is usually two to three weeks at a time. One recent tour was thirty days in Afghanistan. Kinda sounds like the title of a movie or really bad nightmare. Because of the war, the last few years the tour have been mostly Southwest Asia: Afghanistan, Saudi, Egypt, Israel, Abu Dubai, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan but I’ve also done all of Europe, Japan, Iceland, Greenland, Korea, Micronesia…basically, if there are American troops somewhere, I’ve been there. At first my wife wasn’t always thrilled that I’m heading out to a war zone to tell jokes but she understands and supports me when I do go and wants to do her part as well. We have several pending tours coming up again throughout the year and she is going to go out on one with me. She recently starred in the movie thriller China Dolls that I wrote and directed and she (Linda Vu) will go out and host the shows and do a meet and greet autograph session afterwards. My website has my current schedule and I always try and blog, post pictures of my tours to keep it current. www.donbarnhart.com
Both my brother and brother-in-law served and my dad was in the reserves so I feel like the military is a big part of my family. When I do a meet and greet after the show, I always try and find out what the soldiers want to talk about and what’s on their mind. Every once in awhile, you meet someone who really needs a friend. Sometimes they need to talk and sometimes they just want to be entertained or reminded of home.
People always ask me to describe my act or to tell them a joke. My act is story driven by punch lines. Like before I left to go overseas, I had to get vaccinated and they gave me a shot for Anthrax. Now I can eat worry free at any Taco Bell for the next twenty years… I grew up in Los Angeles and got fed up with the fake people and pretentious attitude so I moved to Las Vegas. We were poor growing up and I’m finally glad my mom turned sixty-five because she’s been using a fake id to get the senior citizen’s discount for years.
One of the greatest thrills is getting feedback from the soldiers. It’s great to take pictures and do handshakes after the shows. And now with the Internet, Facebook and Myspace, many of the soldiers I meet send me pictures and emails to stay in touch. I’ve made so many great friends with the soldiers and I still tour throughout the states and it’s so cool when a guy or girl comes up and says that they saw me overseas. It means they made it home and that brings a smile to my face.
You don’t really spend too much time thinking about the security issues or threats. We get fully briefed so I feel we are ready for whatever comes our way. I try and stay focused on giving the best show I can no matter the conditions. Remember, we get to go home in a week or two so no matter how tough we have it as entertainers, the troops have it even tougher and we are here for them. There’s a great saying, if you’re looking at the obstacles, your not focused on your goal. The soldiers make it safe for us to do our jobs.
There really have never been any harrowing experiences or close calls unless getting shot at and having missiles flying all around you is frightening. I do have some horror stories but it’s not something I choose to focus on. I try and find the funny in it if I can, that’s part of being a comic. There was this one time though. I guess my worst experience while entertaining overseas was eating some unwashed fruit in Turkey. We had just started the tour and I couldn’t stand for more than a few minutes without having to run to the bathroom but as they say, the show must go on. We had 3 comics on that tour and I told them to just be ready, as I would do as much time as I could then run off the stage and launch my own weapon of mass destruction. There was this foul cloud following me around. I felt like Peg Pen from the Peanuts cartoon. Anyway, after a few of my sprints, the crowd actually got into it and it became a part of the show. They were actually timing me as to how long I could stay before sprinting to the bathroom again. Let me tell you, I’m a pretty physical comic with lots of facial expressions and body movement and it’s not easy trying to be funny and squeezing your glutes at the same time.
Once we get on site, we try and work out and stay as fit as possible as these tour are really gruelling. We might travel 24 hours then have to do a show right away and we want to give our best so being out of shape doesn’t help. We usually do what the troops do. If they have volleyball, then we’re out there sweating it up or if it’s movie night, then we chill out an hang with them.
Each tour is different. If it’s a bigger base, we might be there for several days then branch out from there to do satellite shows to the smaller bases or just pop from on location to the next. It’s all based off of what is actually going on that day and whether there is an active battle or security threat. That’s what is so great about producing a comedy show as we can we go to a different base and then circle back later with little set up time unlike a band or bigger production style show.
My career sort of charted itself. I grew up the son of television director Don Lewis Barnhart who directed Mork & Mindy and Saved by The Bell. Hanging out on the sets of Los Angeles, I got the desire for doing comedy by hanging out and getting encouragement from Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters. I then got a job at the prestigious Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA where I became the house emcee, talent coordinator and manger at the age of 20 and got to work with and open up for Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Robin Williams, David Spade, Jim Carrey, George Lopez, Harry Anderson and many more of the top comedy superstars working today.
Ironically, comedy wasn’t my first choice. When I was 18, I was living in Hermosa Beach, CA surfing a lot doing nothing much with my life and I went to join the service and the recruiting office was closed. Turns out it was Memorial Day and I was pulling a Jeff Spicolli. Anyway, on the way home I saw a help wanted sign at a comedy club and went in and got hired as a doorman. I only worked one night a week so I would go in and help out, bussing tables, video taping the acts and just being there all the time so I could watch the greats and then one night the emcee got sick I went on and later when I started doing comedy full time I promised myself that if I ever made a living doing stand up I would do something to support our troops. If it weren’t for comedy, I’d be scrubbing the deck on an aircraft carrier or something.
With encouragement from the other comics, I left the security of the club to pursue his own dream and I haven’t looked back and I average over 250 days a year performing on the road. I was just nominated Best Comedian in Las Vegas and I’m the Creator and Host of The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show. I am the writer, director and star of the indie film, China Dolls, and just finished writing and will star in the upcoming comedy film, Freeloader. In 2007, I was the grand prize winner of the short lived American Idol Comedy Contest and I’ve been fortunate to appear on every major comedy show from NBC to Comedy Central and MTV and I’m a regular on The Bob & Tom Show, XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.
My wife and I formed Don Barnhart Entertainment specializing in independent TV/film productions and we have one of the premier booking agencies for comedy shows for the military, colleges and corporate events and I’m a consultant to the top comedy clubs across the country.
If you would like more information about myself or to book a comedy show, please check out our website for more information.
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) gives up his crime-fighting identity of Spider-Man in a desperate attempt to return to ordinary life and keep the love of MJ (Kirsten Dunst). But a ruthless, terrifying new villain, the multi-tentacled Doc Ock, forces Peter to swing back into action to save everything he holds dear...
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Stress Relief with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
How Much Money Ebay Stole From Me in the Last Week!!!
How Much Money EBay Stole From Me In The Last Week!!!
This past 7 days I did an experiment. I had not listed on eBay in over two months so I really never had any idea what I was truly spending per item in listing and final valuation fees… until now… My account was paid up and I was beginning from ground zero.
Well I put on 182 items of good to very good antique and vintage costume jewelry with most under $10.00, a number of them under $20.00 and a few under $40.00. None of my auction listings had any extra “bells and whistles” so that most listed for $.35 - $.90. I sold 55 auctions for $1,105.00… not bad for a week’s work? Can’t beat it huh!!! Well the week has ended and let me give you the total breakdown of my costs.
With the cost of 182 auctions’ listing fees, 30 items relisting fees and final valuation fees I owe eBay $305.55. So that means I now made $799.45… still not bad for a week’s work… right? Oh I forgot ebay buyers can now only pay with paypal and this is any estimated $133.99 in Paypal charges (remember this is still going into eBay’s pocket). Well that now brings me down to $665.46… okay not as good as I had hoped… but, oh I forgot the cost of my merchandise which at the low end is about $455.00 and which I also bought through eBay so they made more money from me when I made my bids to win it … now I made $210.46 … well now we are down below minimum wage for my 40 hours of work. And it gets worse, I offered FREE SHIPPING as eBay really like to get buyers and this will be about another $100.00… which leaves me with a grand total for the week of $110.46 divided by a 40 hour week makes my hourly rate $2.76 an hour.
So as you see between eBay and Paypal my original $1,105.00 income was reduced by 40% for their fees. This is higher than the highest tax bracket… this is higher than what an auctioneer would have charged and they would have actually worked for the money and probably sold everything.
Throughout the annals of time, I am sure that Ebay along with its subsidiary Paypal are the greediest two companies to have ever graced the face of the earth. One more point about eBay… when listing an auction, eBay would like to see you contribute a percentage of your sales to a charity from 10% to a whopping 100%. I really hope no eBay seller is under the delusion that eBay is sending a check to your favorite charity with your name on it… wrong …eBay is taking your hard earned charitable contribution and writing it off against their corporate taxes thus lowering eBay’s tax liability. EBay sellers fill eBay’s pockets with tons of cash and then eBay turns around and expects eBay sellers to pay their taxes!!! This is unfathomable greed and eBay continues to get away with it!!!
Now along with all of this, as a seller I have to worry that someone will leave me negative feedback and I have no recourse, or God forbid someone reverses their payment to me on Paypal and I am out those additional funds, or that my Power Seller (what good is it anyways) will be dropped or the ultimate I will wake up one morning and across my screen in big yellow words “YOU ARE SUSPENDED FROM EBAY” for something inane and trivial.
I honestly have to ask why do people put up with this greed and craziness. Why do eBay sellers struggle to keep eBay’s pockets over brimming and their stockholders fat!!! Ebay is not the place it used to be or is it really even an option as a place to make money. Actually most could work at McDonalds and make twice as much and get a free burger in the bargain.
The problem is that people who love auctions and buying and selling vintage and antique things can’t get it out of their blood. Well there is a true alternative to eBay and it is especially for the small boutique and specialty store buyer and seller of vintage and antique things. I along with three others have started VintageBoutiquesMall and it is the umbrella company for a series of new and exciting auction boutiques for antique and vintage merchandise to be opened over the next 14 months. The premise of our business is three fold. First is to have auction boutique venues for specialty antique and vintage merchandise. Second is to be the least costly venue on the internet. And third is to provide the best customer service available anywhere.
The first auction boutique, opened in October 2008, is Vintage Gems Emporium at www.vintagegemsemporium.com. This is an exclusive auction venue for antique, vintage and new costume and fine jewelry. For example if I had listed the above 182 auctions on Virtual Gems Emporium with the many free upgrades VGE offers, my total cost to list and relist would have been $74.20 and this is because THERE ARE NO FINAL VALUATION FEES!!! Yes that is right $74.20 as compared to $305.55 at eBay. Also since Virtual Gems Emporium does not require the buyer to pay by Paypal (this obviously is still an option along with many other payment options at VGE) I could save the additional $133.99. My sales of $1,105.00 would have only been diminished to $1,030.00 and that is if everyone would have paid by check or money order. Now if all had chosen to use paypal or comparable online payment, my total proceeds would have been reduced to around $896.81 at VGE as compared to the above $655.46. This is a huge savings of $241.35. The point here is that buyers and sellers now have options.
LIST FOR FREE THROUGHOUT DECEMBER AND JANUARY
Just to show you how generous we are at VGE you can list as much as you want for FREE throughout the month of December and January. Hopefully you will get that extra cash needed for Christmas and the holidays. We want as many jewelry lovers to come to get to know us and test drive our site… and we want to see you make money for the Holidays. So get going and enjoy a wonderful and exciting month of making some extra money without worrying about listing fees and NO Final Valuation Fees!!! The free listing feature is for all types of auctions, fixed, buy out, or reserve auction and will include:
1. FREE SUBCATEGORY
2. FREE PHOTO UPLOADS (up to 7 photos)
3. FREE SUPERSIZE THUMBNAIL GALLERY PHOTOS
4. FREE BUY IT NOW
5. FREE RESERVE
6. FREE DELAYED AUCTION START
7. FREE LISTING (no matter what the starting price is AND no matter how many)
8. FREE BOLD
The only things not included in this free offer will be HIGHLIGHTING, HOME PAGE FEATURE, CATEGORY FEATURE and MEDIA (movie) UPLOAD which are all still available but at the price indicated in our site fee section to be found at the bottom of the home page.
REGISTRATION IS FREE !!!NO FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS REQUIRED!!!
IMPORTANT KEYS TO YOUR SUCCESS ON THE SITE and GETTING YOUR VGE BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND!!!
This is a new site since only being up just a little over a month and I just want to remind you that this site is YOUR site. As with starting any new business endeavor you will need to work to contact friends, family and other auction buddies you may have in your email address book and let them know where you are. This is good for everybody. In my first month on VGE, many of my previous buyers from eBay signed up and my income barely skipped a beat and actually probably did better since I paid no Final Valuation Fees!!! If you want more than you will be expected to work to make VGE better than eBay and with the opportunity to make tons of money with more of it going in your pocket.
I have read many blogs and forums over the past year and a half and the complaints about eBay continue to mount. But the overriding comment has always been “why doesn’t someone else start an auction site for the small boutique seller”. Well that is what gave birth to the idea of Virtual Gems Emporium and IT IS FOR YOUR USE TO MAKE TONS OF MONEY!!!.
Once you have registered I will be sending you an email for you to send to your friends, family and auction buddies. This letter should be emailed as a blind copy (BCC) to everyone in your email address book. Just as with any new business venture you need to get your leads for sales and this will help to bring those who love you and your things to the site. Think about business associates, church members or anyone else who you might know and make them aware of where you are and that they might find some really great Christmas or Holiday Gifts for those on their lists.
The great news gets even greater. Before the end of 2008 two more new sites will be opened and each will again be vintage and antique boutique auctions like Virtual Gems Emporium. And guess what, if you are signed up on Vintage Gems Emporium you will have a “VINTAGE BOUTIQUES PASSPORT” to shop and sell in any and all boutiques that are opened.
The next auction boutique to be opened will be ViNTAGE Collectibles Shop and will be for all of the vintage and antique things that collectors love. You will find stamps, coins, toys, comic books, dolls, sports memorabilia, snowglobes, Disney, paper ephemera and so much more.
The third auction boutique will be Arts and Antique GallerIA and will be all about fine vintage and antique pieces for the dealer and collector. You will find paintings, limited edition art pieces, sculpture, vintage and antique porcelain, glassware, art glass, pottery, art pottery, Asian Antiques, antiquities, furniture, and so much more.
In 2009, other fabulous boutique auction sites will be opened and will include Veranda and Patio, European, African, Far East, Gourmet, Kitchen, Bed and Bath, Pet and more!!! So hold onto your hats because this is where the future is going and just think you are all in on the ground floor of this very exciting endeavor.
Unlike EBay, VGE has many buyer to seller payment options and include personal check, cashier’s check, money orders, Western Union, Paypal, Google Check Out, Authorize.net and even more so you now the FREEDOM and OPPORTUNITY to conduct your business the way you want to.
To summarize, build your business on VGE as quickly as you can so you can make a ton of money especially with the holidays coming.
We want you to be successful and we want our site to be the best ALTERNATIVE out there.
My name is Candace Daugherty and I live near Charleston, South Carolina. My passion is Antique and Vintage Costume and Fine Jewelry. I have collected jewelry for over 35 years and own many incredibly fabulous book pieces as shown in the many jewelry price guides authored by Harrice Simons Miller, Roseanne Ettinger, Jeannene Bell and others.
I love Victorian, Art Nouveau and Edwardian pieces and have been fortunate to find many wonderful and highly collectible pieces right here in my own backyard of Charleston, SC. I have a special fondness as most do for Miriam Haskell, DeMario, Schaiparelli, Alfred Philippe, Staret, McClelland-Barclay, Pennino and more and have found wonderful ways to put my hands on these pieces at a fraction of what most retailers or collectors could ever expect.
Since September 15, 2008 I along with three others have founded the first of its kind, an exclusive auction boutique for antique, vintage and new costume and fine jewelry. We started Vintage Gems Emporium at www.vintagegemsemporium.com with three concepts in mind. One, a special boutique environment in an Auction Venue just for the collector and specialist of antique and vintage costume and fine jewelry. Two, to be the lowest cost auction or fixed price venue on the internet. And three to put the entire Virtual Gems Emporium community first with unbelievable customer service and fair equal treatment of all trading partners.
May events bloom
May events bloom
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This 44th edition of America's longest-running price guide and most trusted name in antiques and collectibles features more of the details and updated prices you need, and more of the market trends and top-quality photos you love...
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Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Silver Liz, signed and dated 'Andy Warhol 65' (on the overlap of the left panel) spray enamel, synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on linen diptych--40 x 80 in. (101.6 x 203.2 cm.) Painted in 1963. Estimate: $10,000,000 - 15,000,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2010.
Unlimited Wealth Creation Through Reseller Hosting
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One of the best ways for children to learn is when their interest is captured. Notice how children are very motivated in winning when playing games like Monopoly and Chess, or how an entire class of rowdy students become quietly enraptured by a rare video screening session. Imagine if you could use Mathematical games in class to motivate all your students, including the weaker ones, into learning Maths of their own accord. Word-game sessions can similarly be organised to encourage the learning of the English Language, when students are allowed to pit their language skills against each other before the eyes of their respected teachers. Games such as Hangman can be organised for the entire class with a little preparation, and you can get free samples of Mathematics games which may be played with students by googling for Math Printables.
The next strategy you can take to make learning interesting is through the use of comical media or videos in the conduct of your lessons. It is true that good videos that are compatible with class instructions may be hard to come by, but you can just take a bit of effort to bookmark any fun videos you see the next time you surf YouTube, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r2YRkTSAG4.
By increasing the applicability of school subjects to students, learning can be much more fun for the less motivated students. A lesson in Science on nutrition may be started with an announcement that "students who wish to grow as tall as Lebron James or girls who want a good figure should study this topic intensively!" Children are full of dreams and fantasies and if you can direct them to specific books where they can explore their dreams further, it can motivate a fair bit of reading and self-learning.
Helping students set meaningful goals would give them a strong sense of direction and focus. This is needed most of the time as not all lessons may be 100% engaging to every single student of the class. Take time off and discuss personal goals with your students either through their journals or personally with them. These goals should be a positive mood booster to the kids just by them thinking about it. A hard-working student may 'Aim for 80 marks and above in all major tests'. A less academically inclined student may 'Aim to be a pilot when I grow up', which a teacher must explain, involves getting rather good grades in school. Get your student to design a digital poster of his goal or dream on an A4 poster and have him put it up on the door of his room. Such 'vision boards' have proven to work miracles for adults, so can they for children.
About the Author
The author is the founder of two education businesses. Find free samples of Math Games which can be played between students or educators at http://www.shimes-education.com
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After the events of last season, Clark takes on the mantle of protector of Metropolis, trading in his familiar red-and-blue for black-and-gray, sticking to the city's shadows and rooftops to become a solitary sentry simply known as "the Blur." While Clark wrestles with his identity, feeling forced to choose between his Kryptonian heritage and human past, he'll encounter even more powerful enemies and allies from across the DC Universe. This season will feature new and past nemeses, including Metallo (Brian Austin Green, "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles"), the man with the Kryptonite heart; Roulette, a sexy mastermind; the return of Toyman; and the always-treacherous Zod (Callum Blue) as a young Major and leader of an invading alien army, who befriends fellow Kryptonian Clark just as his venomous side is beginning to emerge. This season will also feature an appearance by DC Comics' first all-star team of superheroes, the Justice Society of America, in an episode penned by renowned comic book writer Geoff Johns, who returns to the show after writing last year's fan favorite episode, "Legion."
After a year of protecting Metropolis as the "Red-Blue Blur," Clark Kent finished season eight with the weight and fate of the world on his shoulders, facing down Doomsday. Clark emerged victorious, but his decision to ignore the Justice League's warnings and save the human side of medic Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer) from the monster Doomsday came with a tragic cost – Davis turned out to be just as evil as the beast he'd been bonded to, and murdered Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) in front of Chloe (Alison Mack), the woman they both loved. In the wake of Jimmy's death, Chloe retreated into her Watchtower, the Justice League disbanded, and Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley) went into a downward spiral, retiring his Green Arrow persona. And Clark turned his back on his own humanity, leaving behind life as "Clark Kent" to exist solely as "the Blur." Meanwhile, Tess Mercer's (Cassidy Freeman) obsession with Clark's Kryptonian origins came to a head when she confronted intrepid reporter Lois Lane (Erica Durance) about a mysterious alien orb that Tess thought Lois had stolen from her, resulting in the two women battling it out in the Daily Planet. During the fight, Lois touched Clark's time-traveling Legion Ring and vanished in a flash of light, lost somewhere in time. And Tess returned home to discover the orb had released a young version of the villainous Kryptonian, Zod, as well as the entire population of the lost alien city of Kandor. But Clark finished the season unaware of this new threat. Instead, he remains haunted by Lois' sudden disappearance, fearing the woman he cares about most could have been killed during his fight with Doomsday.
The season nine premiere takes place three weeks after Clark and Doomsday's epic battle. Obsessed with becoming the hero the world needs, Clark is now literally leaving his mark on Metropolis – having fully embraced his Kryptonian side in order to finish training with his father Jor-El, Clark has started wearing the iconic "S"-shield on his chest, and spreads the symbol around the city in an effort to give its people hope.
Whereas Clark is working alone, Chloe feels driven to reunite the disbanded Justice League. Her biggest challenge is Oliver Queen, who'd rather lose himself in underground fight clubs and drunken one-night stands. Oliver's friends will hatch a plan to bring him back from the edge. Reconnecting with the hero inside of him, Oliver will return with a renewed purpose, even searching out an apprentice in Mia Dearden, DC comics' teenaged sidekick "Speedy."
Clark and Oliver will find themselves caught up in a love triangle with Lois, as both men's passions begin to burn brightly for her. Returning from her trip through time, Lois starts experiencing nightmarish visions of the future. Could they come true? If so, one not-so-troubling image is playing itself over and over in her head – Lois and Clark locked in a romantic, erotic embrace. Meanwhile, Clark continues to be conflicted over his own feelings for Lois. As the sparks fly, Lois and Clark's relationship will deepen, leading to their first true kiss, and possibly something more.
Meanwhile, Clark and Chloe's relationship is starting to become strained. No longer content just being Clark's sidekick, Chloe uses Watchtower's powerful computers to spin her own web of influence and intrigue, manipulating people like chess pieces in the name of the greater good. But when Chloe begins to believe the ends justify the means, it sends her on a collision course with her friend and ally Clark.
When it comes to master manipulators, Tess Mercer has emerged as the rightful heir to Lex Luthor's legacy. Always inscrutable, Tess has her hands full this season with an army of Kryptonians, newly arrived from the lost city of Kandor and led by the infamous Zod. However, this incarnation of Zod is younger than the one we remember – he has yet to grow into the power-mad psychopathic dictator, General Zod. Season nine's Zod may only be a Major, but he's already a cunning strategist and charismatic leader who knows how to inspire his troops. But behind his magnetism and those piercing eyes, Zod is still very dangerous. When Zod and Clark eventually meet, Clark recognizes that if he can befriend his fellow Kryptonian, he might be able to influence Zod away from becoming an evil, twisted tyrant. While it's true this Major Zod has certain vulnerabilities, it may only take a handful of betrayals to turn him into Clark's deadly arch-nemesis.
"Smallville" was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar ("Shanghai Noon," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"), based on the DC Comics characters. Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson serve as executive producers, along with James Marshall, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.
I'm Jamila. I am a movie buff so I have created Watch New Movies Online Free for those of you who are like me. We love the movies but don't quite have the time to get out to see them.
Weekend Art Roundup
by Jenny Hart, from Study Hall Drawings , courtesy of Domy Books There are many great art related happenings taking place all around town this weekend, here are a few of the highlights... This evening, spend a happy hour or two over at Industry Screenprinting (2503B E. 6th) for another installment of PRINT+addiction . This time the crew has invited Jared Connor from Mexican Chocolate Design to ...
More than a decade after Charles Schulz's death (February 2000), his strip continues in reruns and the characters can be seen everywhere. But the key artists who made the classic TV specials have passed away, and their absence is evident in Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown...
Perfect for fans of the movie, this Napoleon Dynamite talking figure adds personality to any bookshelf, end table or office desk. Napoleon comes dressed in his signature "Vote for Pedro" suit and spurts out funny phrases from the movie...
WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion, World Tag Team Champion, Royal Rumble Winner, King of the Ring Winner, WCW United States Champion, WCW Tag Team Champion. Measures 7".
NOTE: This edition has a linked "Table of Contents" and has been beautifully formatted (searchable and interlinked) to work on your Amazon e-book reader, iPad e-book reader, iPhone e-book reader, BlackBerry e-book reader, Android e-book reader, iPod e-book reader and your Amazon Desktop Reader...
NOTE: This edition has a linked "Table of Contents" and has been beautifully formatted (searchable and interlinked) to work on your Amazon e-book reader, iPad e-book reader, iPhone e-book reader, BlackBerry e-book reader, Android e-book reader, iPod e-book reader and your Amazon Desktop Reader...
What happens when you combine an industry veteran at the top of his game with a hot, up-and-coming young artist, and let them loose on Marvel's mightiest mutants? You get a fan-favorite, multi-year X-Men run unequaled in style, pizzazz and wall-to-wall action! It's Chris Claremont's most ambitious story arc ever, featuring Jim Lee's dynamic debut issues and major changes to the X-Men's status quo! Jubilee debuts just as the X-Men disband, granted new lives by the Siege Perilous! The Reavers enact gruesome revenge on Wolverine and decimate Muir Island, while Psylocke is transformed into a ninja! The Shadow King makes his play for Storm, culminating in the action-packed introduction of Gambit! Wolverine's hidden past with Captain America and the Black Widow is revealed! And this is just the first volume! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN #244-269, X-MEN ANNUAL (1970) #13 and CLASSIC X-MEN #39.
10 Things To Do This Weekend For Under $10: Gastronomic Adventures, Free Comics, Electro-disco Noiseniks
Were those glorious super-warm days of last weekend simply a tease? Are we doomed to a more traditional mid-season S.F. weekend of half-sunny, half-windy days? Well I hate to say it fellow...
A while back, I was shopping in the book section of Costco, a tempting place for a book-lover. While browsing the latest thrillers, I overheard this exchange between a middle-school girl and her mother.
Girl: "But why can't I read The Da Vinci Code?"
Mom: "It's a grown-up book, honey. Here, take this one."
Girl: "The Hobbit? I don't want to read that; it's a little kid's book."
Mom: "We want you to read The Hobbit."
At that point, I felt like stepping in and saying, "Excuse me, ma'am, I'm an author. Step away from The Hobbit. Let the girl read what she likes."
The truth is, it's hard enough to get some kids to put their nose in a book. No need to complicate matters by trying to make them read something they don't like.
Educators, parents and authors all want to keep reluctant readers reading. But those readers can be finickier than a roomful of felines at a cat food taste test. Maybe they know what they like; maybe they only know what they don't like.
I believe that all it takes to create a reader is the right book. Finding that tale is the trick.
So how do you pick books that will hook reluctant readers? Each child is different, with very particular tastes. Nevertheless, here are some key elements that engage child readers, along with some suggested titles:
HUMOR
Whether you hate or love Captain Underpants, you can't deny that his humor captures readers - especially boys. Kids love to laugh, and if you can put funny books in their hands, they'll keep gobbling them up.
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka
Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe
The Chet Gecko Mysteries by Bruce Hale
Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money by Christopher Paul Curtis
SYMPATHETIC CHARACTERS
Whatever genre the story falls into, it must have a main character that the reader claims as a friend. And just as important, the tale must be told in concise, vigorous writing. Reluctant readers don’t have the patience to slog through lengthy or convoluted prose.
Amber Brown by Paula Danziger
Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee
The Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Superfudge by Judy Blume
FANTASY
Kids love books that take a compelling “what if” (what if a treehouse was a time machine? what if a boy went to wizard school?) and spin out a story. Alternate worlds, magical happenings, extraterrestrials — all of these can capture the unmotivated reader’s imagination.
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
The Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
My Teacher Is an Alien by Bruce Coville
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
ACTION
With so much competition from movies, TV and videogames, books must move if they want to entice. Slow-paced stories are fine for more experienced readers, but reluctant readers need books that hit the ground running.
Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Redwall books by Brian Jacques
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
THE PROMISE THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN
This is why we all read, to see what happens next in the story. A book that builds suspense early on and maintains it will keep kids reading.
Animorphs by K.A. Applegate
Holes by Louis Sachar
Matt Christopher Sports Series by Matt Christopher
Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
SERIES
Series are training-wheel books. They provide familiar characters in a familiar world that’s easier to lose yourself in with each new title. Series books build literacy skills and create new readers.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan
The Magic Schoolbus series by Joanna Cole
STRONG VISUALS
Graphic novels, manga, and comic books, with their strong visual content, will hook plenty of reluctant readers — especially boys. These books can serve as a stepping-stone to longer fiction.
Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai
Bone by Jeff Smith
Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragones
Babymouse by Jennifer and Matthew Holm
SEEING THEMSELVES
Some reluctant readers don’t want fantasy; they want the real world. If we take the time to give them books with multicultural characters they can identify with, those readers will respond.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis
Who Am I Without Him? Sharon Flake (YA)
Some say that it’s not good to give kids certain kinds of books, that it’s not wise to let them read comic books or escapist literature. Personally, I’m happy if kids read almost anything — magazines, video game instructions, cereal boxes, or the writing on the wall — as long as they’re reading.
First we have to show them that reading can be fun. Only after that goal is accomplished can we offer them more challenging books that will open up their minds.
If we want to have a literate nation in the future, reaching reluctant readers now is our first task. (After that, we can focus on playing “book police” at Costco. Just kidding.)
About the Author
Bruce Hale is the author of over 20 books for kids, including the Edgar-nominated series, The Chet Gecko Mysteries, and the forthcoming graphic novel/fiction series, Underwhere. He speaks at schools, conferences, and businesses across North America. You can find Bruce on the Web at: http://www.brucehale.com
Having survived the terrible battle with Azula, Aang faces new challenges as he and his brave friends secretly enter the Fire Nation. Their quest is to find and defeat Firelord Ozai. Along the way, they discover that Ozai has plans of his own...
Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) was only a teenaged stunt biker when he sold his soul to the devil (Peter Fonda). Years later Johnny is a world renowned daredevil by day but at night he becomes the Ghost Rider of Marvel Comics legend...
The town of Arkham, Massachusetts is in a panic. Horrific and bizarre events have begun to occur with increasing frequency -- all seeming to point towards some cataclysmic event in the near future that may spell disaster for everyone...
An exciting D&D boardgame for 1–5 players. The master of Ravenloft is having guests for dinner—and you are invited! Evil lurks in the towers and dungeons of Castle Ravenloft, and only heroes of exceptional bravery can survive the horrors within...
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import! Following hot on the heels of the first three Marvel Comics Bishoujo Collection Statues (Rogue, Black Widow, and Scarlet Witch) comes the mysterious and beautiful telepathic ninja mutant PSYLOCKE! Once a British woman with minor mutant powers, Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock's mind was transferred into the body of a ninja giving her additional martial arts prowess...
The Hunger Games
List Price: $8.99 Sale Price: $3.75
Used From: $3.56
Summary:In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated...
On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of its first publication, here is the definitive edition of the book acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust” (Wall Street Journal) and “the first masterpiece in comic book history” (The New Yorker)...
US $12.00
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