Books 122: Harry Potter

As many of you are probably aware, today being November 19th is the day that the first of the two-part movie Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows comes out in theaters. Harry Potter fans across the world (including myself) crowded theaters for midnight showings, dressed up in extravagant costumes to showcase their pride, all to watch the final book in J.K. Rowling's epic series come to life on the big screen. "But what's the big deal about Harry Potter anyway?" someone that hasn't read a Harry Potter book before might be asking. Well, as a self-proclaimed Harry Potter fanatic, I'm here to give you my two cents.

I'm sure that everyone is at least familiar with the general concept of the books, as Wikipedia so eloquently describes them: "The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's quandary involving the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents in his quest to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical people (Muggles)."

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published on June 30th, 1997. Six more books, eight movies, and millions upon millions of Harry Potter lovers followed. Not to mention an entire franchise worth billions of dollars. According to Tumblr: "The U.S. print run of book one, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was 50,000 copies. The U.S. print run of the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was 12 million copies. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold 8.3 million copies in the U.S. in the first 24 hours. That's 96 copies per second. If you lined up those 8.3 million copies, you'd end up with a bookshelf longer than the Grand Canyon. Harry Potter movies have made roughly $5.4 billion worldwide, more than any other franchise. That averages out to $900 million per film. It's as if every person in the world has spent 80 cents on the franchise."

But there's so much more to Harry Potter than all of that. J.K. Rowling had created an entire magical world that you longed to be a part of. Even though you knew it was just a book, you couldn't help but wonder if your Hogwarts acceptance letter had just gotten lost in the mail or something. You're almost to the point that you would almost give anything to be on that train eating chocolate frogs after changing into your school robes.

For many, growing up along with Harry throughout his many adventures was such a huge part of their childhood. I can remember doing a book report on the Chamber of Secrets in second grade, all the way up to the point of being thirteen and standing in the huge line at Barnes & Noble for hours before midnight waiting to buy my copy of the last book, and then reading it until my parents forced me to go to bed at five in the morning. That anticipation of waiting and waiting for that next sequel to come out was always torturously exciting.

After seven books, you can't help but fall in love with the characters, becoming incredibly emotionally attached to every single one of them. J.K. Rowling has made us laugh and cry and wonder and dream and think and imagine, and I can't thank her enough for that.

Food 122: Harry Potter Month (Butterbeer)



Today it's time to cover an infamous Harry Potter drink. Butterbeer. It seriously is one of the best drinks I have ever had. It warms your insides and makes you feel magical for a moment. It really brings you into the world of Harry Potter. Hopefully everyone can enjoy it this weekend (well, the Harry Potter fans that is). Even if you didn't read the books though, I'm sure you'll enjoy this drink!

Prep Time: 5 minutes.
Makes: 2 cups
Cook Time: 3 minutes.

Ingredients:
1) 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
2) 1/4 cup butterscotch topping
3) 2 tablespoons whipped butter, room temperature
4) 1 1/2 cups vanilla cream soda

Directions:
1) Combine condensed milk, butterscotch topping, and butter in a glass heatproof measuring cup.
2) Heat in microwave for 1 minute.
3) Remove and stir until butter has melted and incorporated into mixture.
4) Meanwhile heat cream soda in another heatproof measuring cup for 1 minute 30 seconds.
5) Divide butterscotch mixture between 2 (10 to 12-ounce) mugs.
6) Fill mugs with heated cream soda and stir thoroughly.
7) Serve garnished with an old-fashioned butterscotch candy stick if desired.

Hope you enjoy and happy Harry Potter week!

Music 122: MSTRKRFT (Remixes)

*Before starting this profile on MSTRKRFT you should know that it's pronounced Master-Craft.

So MSTRKRFT might be known for two things: their original music or their remixes. Personally I like their remixes more. The thing about their remixes are that they are better than the originals. Yes, remixes can be better than original music if you find the right song and the right remix. I'm serious. On occasion, I will find a really good remix. I'm not talking about club songs for the Black Eyed Peas or anything, I'm talking about remixes of Justice, Wolfmother, and Metric. MSTRKRFT even remixed a Katy Perry song and made it more enjoyable. So today instead of giving background on MSTRKRFT I'll show you their remixes, an art that they have definitely perfected.

1) D.A.N.C.E. - Justice (remixed by MSTRKRFT)


2) Monster Hospital- Metric (remixed by MSTRKRFT)


3) Woman- Wolfmother (remixed by MSTRKRFT)


If up to it after, check out the originals (if you didn't know them before). Which ones do you think are better?

Books 121: The Hobbit

If you haven't at least heard of the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, where have you been? If you haven't noticed, the successful books have been made into a three award-winning films directed by Peter Jackson, and the fan base behind the popular franchise is just as huge as they come.

But before the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien wrote an equally successful children's book called The Hobbit. The book follows the journey of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, who is recruited by the wizard Gandalf to join a group of dwarves on the quest to retrieve their lost treasure from the clutches of a dragon named Smaug. Their journey is filled with narrow escapes from trolls, goblins, evil wolves, enormous spiders, and other strange creatures, as well as visits with elves, giant eagles, and a man that can change into a bear. It all sounds like a pretty awesome adventure, right? And if you're at all familiar with the series, you might recognize some of the names of the characters too, a few of which show up later in the LOTR books.

When I was little, my dad would read me chapters from The Hobbit every night before I went to bed, so I pretty much grew up with loving the story. And now it turns out that this book is going to be made into a movie too, also directed by Peter Jackson, which is supposedly scheduled to begin filming this February and be released in December 2012. That's definitely exciting news for Tolkien fans.

Food 121: Harry Potter Month (Cauldron Cakes)



Last month was treats for the month of October and that went pretty well if I do say so myself. Traditionally you'd do Thanksgiving treatsin November, but the nerd I am had a better idea. This month the first part of the final Harry Potter film comes out and what better way to countdown than to post a popular Potter recipe each week? Awesome right? Seeing that I was in a Harry Potter club a few years back and got to try all the great recipes (Butterbeer anyone?) I like to think I am a little bit experienced in these recipes. Even if you are not a fan of the books you will love these recipes!

*Before we start there are many variations of these recipes online but I picked the ones I've either tried or that looked the yummiest. Up this week are Cauldron Cakes, which can be changed to be chocolate. The vanilla one is better though if I do say so myself.

Overall time: 35  minutes. (10 to prep and 35 to bake).
Serves: 21 small cakes

Ingredients:
1. 1 1/2 cups of flour
2. 3 /12 teaspoons of baking powder
3. 1 teaspoon of salt
4. 1/2 cup of softened butter or 1/2 cup of softened margarine
5. 1 cup of milk
6. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
7. 3 eggs
8. 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
9. 1/8 teaspoon of ginger

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix eggs, sugar, butter/margarine, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla in a mixing bowl (large) on whip for about 2 minutes.
3. Mix the other solid ingredients and milk gradually in the large mixing bowl.
4. Put batter in muffin tins (not too high, these are supposed to look flat). bake for 25 minutes.
5. You can decorate with sprinkles, powder, or frosting after if you please. These cakes go well with honey too.
6. Enjoy!

Any requests or comments? If you tried this recipe did you like it? I love to hear your feedback!

Movies 121 : Due Date

Todd Phillips, the director of the fun Hangover,  is back. This time with a buddy roadtrip. Well, I'm not sure if you would call it a buddy film, exactly. It does slightly resemble Planes, trains and Automobiles. There is Robert Downey, Jr. as the straight man while Zach Galifianakis plays the funny one.

Michelle Monaghan plays the pregnant wife

Storyline: Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) must get to LA in five days to be at the birth of his firstborn. He is about to fly home from Atlanta when his luggage and wallet are stolen, and he is put on the "no-fly" list. Desperate to get home Peter is forced to accept the offer of Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) to hitch a ride with him cross-country. Peter is about to go on a terrifying and agonizing journey of his life.

mishaps with Ethan's father's ashes

Granted, I don't feel this movie is quite over the top and hilarious as Phillips previous film The Hangover. But Galifianakis does exactly his bit, as being his quirky pothead self. And he shows the lengths he'll go to, just to have himself tripping. Which is kind of funny, with the inside jokes. Since Downey's character is on the straight and narrow.

There is plenty of unexpected adventure. Breath taking car accidents, a side trip to Mexico and even a jaunt to Grand Canyon that makes you squirm just a little, wondering if one might fall in. Of course, one has to wonder of Galifiankisis sexual orientation in the movie, too. Its kept a mystery. His Ethan Tremblay is would be actor, hoping to make it big on Two and Half Men. Of course, Downey's Peter would wonder how the fellow has made it this far in life. Ethan's not that bright and stay confused on so much common knowledge. Tremblay is a heavy sleeper. Even drives in his sleep. Luckily, after their major accident on the freeway, an old friend of Peter's from Dallas comes to help. Jamie Foxx is Daryl, who's got it good in Dallas, but he can only do so much for Peter since he is on the NO FLY list, thanks to Ethan when he tried to fly out of Atlanta in the first place.

This happens a lot in the film

Seriously, its a movie that puts Downey through the rigors, just to get to the birth of his first born. Perhaps its trips like these that make good buddies in the end. Its quite a quest. Really, Downey is the better actor in the movie, but Galifianakis definitely does what he does best. And that is to make you laugh.

On a side note, I really loved the soundtrack. Tunes from Wolfmother, Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes.



7/10

Art 120: Creative Color Wheels

Color wheels are essential for artists while they are painting and/or studying color theory. They can be really basic like the one above, or far more interesting and ascetically pleasing to the eye like the rest of the ones I'll include.

Besides being a tool for color study, people will in fact argue that color wheels serve no real purpose. But what what if you got creative with it? Thought outside the box, or in this case, the circle? Well, then it can transform into an art piece itself!


Have you ever made a color wheel?

Poetry 120: E.E. Cummings

A post on the work of E.E. Cummings was already made before, but I figured that there's no such thing as too much from him! So, here are a few more of his poems that I've selected to share with you all on this lovely Friday. Enjoy. :)

it may not always be so

it may not always be so; and i say
that if your lips,which i have loved,should touch
another's, and your dear strong fingers clutch
his heart,as mine in time not far away;
if on another's face your sweet hair lay
in such a silence as i know,or such
great writhing words as, uttering overmuch,
stand helplessly before the spirit at bay;

if this should be, i say if this should be-
you of my heart,send me a little word;
that i may go unto him,and take his hands,
saying, Accept all happiness from me.
Then shall i turn my face,and hear one bird
sing terribly afar in the lost lands.

~~~

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

Music 120: Speak Now

I figured since the new Taylor Swift album is pretty big that I'd review it. A friend made me a copy of it so what the heck, I figure if I'm going to review an album it might as well be this one. Anyway, no matter how much Taylor Swift can annoy some people, you gotta give her credit for selling an album. So here I am, reviewing a Taylor Swift album so you don't have to. Think of it as a favor. So here's a track by track review. Hopefully be the time this is posted the hype will have died down (hopefully).

Track One: Mine- The first single off this album and probably the one you've heard the most about. A Swift version of a picture perfect relationship. I know I'm only on the first track but it's already probably one of the best songs and the one you will end up getting. The worst song is probably the fact that this is her third song that mentions something happening at 2 AM. 5/5.

Track Two: Sparks Fly- While Taylor Swift's Fearless strayed away from country and went more pop you can see this one is more country. Again, nothing new. It isn't bad but isn't amazing. The chorus is sort of catchy but all of her choruses are. 3/5.

Track Three: Back to December- A song supposedly about Taylor Lautner and yet another single. I think I'm seeing a pattern now. Long song with repetitive lyrics, not a huge fan. The further I get into it I realize yes, Taylor Swift is brutally honest and will write a song about anything and everything. I don't know if I despise that about her or admire it. You tell me, it's still a 3/5.

Track Four: Speak Now- My favorite track. The second single of the album and I'm starting to think the singles might be the only good things on Speak Now. The song seems nauseatingly like every other song Swift sings but with a little more attitude. Still as a good beat, I guarantee this song will tire fast though but for now: 5/5.

Track Five: Dear John- I'm really hoping this song isn't about John Mayer like everyone else says it is because that would just be a little weird. Slow song, long song. Those two seem to always go together. People with short attention spans will hate it, I'm sort of hating it too. It's a song that is almost 7 minutes and not worth the time. 2/5.

Track Six: Mean- The song with the title that disgusts me. I'm sure there could've been a better use of words in this songs. It's sort of catchy but sounds like it was written by a six year old. To me shows immaturity in Swift. There's really not much to say about this song. 2/5.

Track Seven: The Story of Us- I hear this song and all I can think of is no! The intro is not great, you think it's a pop song then goes back to country. I'm only halfway through the album and disappointed. This is a mess of many things. Again, not worth much time. 2/5.

Track Eight: Never Grow Up- This has a sweet sincerity to it and feels a lot more like Taylor Swift. Speaks the truth but might not be a song all people will appreciate. I'd still give it a listen, it's a better version of The Best Day (from album Fearless). 4/5.

Track Nine: Enchanted- Good beginning, you know a song is going to be good when you're hooked by the first beat. A better track, but the chorus breaks the song a little. This song would make a better acoustic. Still a 3.5/5.

Track Ten: Better Than Revenge- Evil Taylor, the very first thing you hear is sending someone to the corner. Not a great song but the very beginning is something you want to hear. When Swift belts that she does nothing better than revenge you can tell it's true. This is a new side of her that hasn't been shown in songs before. 2.5/5.

Track Eleven: Innocent- A song about Kanye West and all I can say is that this is a little much. This has been blown into huge proportions and not worth the time. Chorus is good though and it'll get the die hard fans to calm down. 2/5.

Track Twelve: Haunted- Sounds a little silly. there's not much to say about this song except for the fact it's a little too dramatic. This far into the album and it's one to skip. 1/5.

Track Thirteen: Last Kiss- Almost done with the album and a little fed up with Taylor Swift  now. A six minute song (this album is way too long for fourteen songs). This song doesn't catch my attention yet and I'm two minutes into it. Better to skip or at least for now. 2/5.

Track Fourteen: Long Live- Okay, for the last song it already sounds like it might be better. Sounds like a good way to end this album. 3/5.

Overall: If I'm being honest this album doesn't stand out. To me all her songs can be lumped together as one big love song, the songs that aren't about love aren't even the good ones. Taylor Swift doesn't have a huge diversity when it comes to her music. The again, this album is new and fresh and you might even get sucked into a song or two on here. My best advice is to stay away, her music is addicting if you're not careful. The last thing I want is for the awesome readers of this blog to get into 'this'. It's not at all bad or anything, just something you don't really need in your library. My use of Taylor  Swift on my Ipod is really for the little girls I babysit so yeah, that's a good use for this album. The best bet for all of you though is to get a couple songs maybe if you're into this kind of thing. I know I am sort of no matter how much I detest it, I just can't help myself.

P.S. This is the album at first listening. This could or could not be a grower album. I will report on that in the next few weeks.

Overall Grade: C

Standout Tracks: Mine, Speak Now, Never Grow Up, Enchanted.

P.S. For all those people who enjoyed Grouplove they just put up their song Colours for free to promote for their upcoming tour! Click here to get the download link.

Movies 120: Hereafter

Storyline: A drama centered on three people who are haunted by mortality in different ways. George (Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (de France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus (Frankie/George McLaren), a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might-or must-exist in the hereafter.

I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting when I went in. I was a little reluctant to know. Thinking, ghost story, perhaps. I knew Damon's character was a psychic who thought his gift was a curse. Somehow, I had it all backwards. As if the beginning would be the end.

And what an amazing beginning. The tragic suspenseful scene of the tsunami takes you there, in moments that just pulse through you. The event has you at the edge of your seat. It seems endless at times yet beautiful too. This is where we get first glimpse of the afterlife through De France's character Marie.

Thus, the movie moves rather slow after that. Granted, the movie does have a European feel to it. Of course, we have a beautiful European cast. There is up to 45 minutes of the movie in French with subtitles. Just don't let that put you off. I did enjoy the performance of Cecile De France. Her character was strong and very beautiful. Only, after what the boyfriend/co-worker(Dider played by Theirry Neuvic) went through, looking for her in this catastrophic event, you would have thought he would have adored her more. And maybe he did. He just didn't have faith nor a believer like Marie.

There is a second story involved with the twin school boys who's mother is an addict. They are 12 minutes apart and identical. Only Marcus has always depended on Jason. All they want is a normal life with a normal mother. Suddenly, tragedy happens out of no where and Marcus is left alone, with questions about what happened to his twin brother. He soon moves into a foster home where he's good, but gets a sudden hankering to find out if psychics can help. He meets up with various ones, but he knows in the end they aren't real. Yet, when he finds George's website that George doesn't even use...Marcus finds hope.

Meanwhile, its never easy falling in love when you are a psychic, especially when one touch gives George a jolt of someone's past. But things are looking up for him when he meets Bryce Dallas Howard's Melanie at a cooking class. They get to know each other in a rather offbeat way. But once he learns her truth, it changes everything. Clint Eastwood has certainly shown over the last decade or so that he does know how to create characters. He has a way of showing the lonely side of being human. Eating alone. Living alone. And he certainly shows the real life of a psychic. Damon was wonderful as George.

Yes, the movie is slow. But it isn't so much about a plot or suspense, yet about faith and fate. Those who believe and those who don't. And the essence of life and how we've lived it. I so adore Frankie and George McLaren in the film as the twins.

The movie shows we need our passions to exist. As one movie critic from Houston put it, "By the end of the film, you realize that the most wonderful and amazing events in life cannot necessarily be proved - but with enough faith and through fate - everything lines up exactly as it should."

It might not be a movie for everyone, but it will make you think. Clint Eastwood gives us a look into the peace and mystery that awaits us on the other side... but also the joy and beauty of what is right in front of us.

Music 119: Patrick Wolf

Its that time of year, again. Time to find those dark and beautiful Gothic songs. And nobody does it better than the talented Patrick Wolf.

He's actually Patrick Apps who was born in 1983 in London. Yet, he looks like he could be a cousin of Jamie Bell's or Tom Felton's. Depending on how he dyes his hair, red or blond. Oh, I can fantasize.

 By the time he was 11 he had built his own theremin, by 14 he was in a pop art collective, and at 20 he released his first album - Lycanthropy - that included material recorded in his bedroom as a 12 year-old. It was received well, but his follow-up, Wind In The Wires (2003), he earned more praise with his song writing and direction of music. In 2007, his third album The Magic Position won critics over. The Magic Position featured collaborations with Marianne Faithfull and Edward Larrikin of Larrikin Love. Some have said this CD worked so well because at the time he'd fallen in love. Then came the speculation to whom.

was beat up by police at a Madonna concert for kissing his boyfriend

"My sexuality is kind of liberal. I fall in love with men and women. I guess you would call me bisexual. I like to have sex and fall in love—I don't like giving terminology for my sexuality." He said at that time, he was involved in a long-term relationship with a man he has named only as William. But who knows now. His next CD The Bachelor was suppose to be entitled The Battle. He worked on it immediately after his Magic Position tour. There were some conflicts along with falling in love again with the next CD that came out in July of 2009. Later, The Conquer is due out this year. Patrick also enjoys making mixes of other people's music too.

Wolf has also done some modeling for The Paddingtons, Edward Larrikin, and The View. He was featured in a series of photographs by Mario Testino as a part of the Burberry campaign back in 2008. Wolf is a busy guy.

His music is original and he is his true orchestra, using all sorts of instruments. His violin is haunting and rich from long ago times, yet it makes one think of home, too. His songs are full of woe. If you listen carefully you will hear he sings a lot like a violin.  Each song carries its own history as if it were a Charles Dickens story, whether it be personal, or the justification of a reality that still exists. You can find his music a treasure to keep.

Some of his music is chillingly, creepy like Childcatcher, but there is the wonderful Magical Position that I hope makes it to musical status some day. One of my first favorite of his is the sad Pigeon Song and  of course, Bloodbeat. I admire him so much. He adds a certain beauty to his music that you can't find anywhere else. On tour he can be a down right punk, like making fun of Justin Timberlake. He certainly can make a show an epiphany to his followers. 

Thanks Tumblr.
PatrickWolf.com

TV 119: Glee

Oh. Its coming. You'll want to tune in. Start your Halloween early. Glee is living the dream. A practical remake of the Rocky Horror Picture show. I'm sure we'll want the tunes from this episode.

Diana Agron  plays Quinn. Quinn is playing Magenta. Magenta was originally played by Patricia QUINN! Madness, right? Anyway Magenta is a maid whose distinct costume makes her a perenniel favorite at Halloween parties for theater geeks.

Dianna isn't the only one in the previews wearing the Magenta outfit. Naya Rivera (Santana) is also dressed as the character, so it's unclear how this is all going to work out.

Chord Overstreet as Rocky Horror and Chris Colfer as Riff Raff, but Heather Morris plays Columbia. It should be a night to remember. Set your DVR. You'll want to play this episode again and again.

'Glee' Does The 'Time Warp' @ Yahoo! Video

Movies 119: It's Kind of a Funny Story

Name: It's Kind of a Funny Story

Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic issues, sexual content, drug material and language.

Run-time: 1 hour and 41 minutes. 

Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianikis, and Emma Roberts. 

Released: October 8th, 2010 (limited release).

Directed By: Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden.

Synopsis: Set in New York, 16-year-old Craig (Gilchrist) stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Galifianakis), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Roberts). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

There's probably two ways you knew about this movie: you had read the book prior or you're lucky enough to have it in a theater by you. You could just be a film junkie like me though and track all the upcoming movies coming out. I actually think I found out about this movie in a commercial before Easy A. I don't know why but something drew me to this story, it might have been the uncanny psychical resemblance between the main character and one of my good friends but I think the latter part of it was the storyline.

It just sounded interesting. Some force drew me to want to see this movie so badly I took a 15 mile trip to the closest theater it was playing at. I was so excited to see it and it wasn't just because funny man Zach Galifianikis so happened to be in it. There was just something special about it, and watching in the theater I could tell. This coming-of-age dramedy struck a part of me I wasn't sure was there. It made me feel a roller coaster of emotions in a mere hour and 41 minutes. It's Kind of a Funny Story had me speechless walking out of that theater. I didn't have anything to say about it for a good 15 minutes, I didn't want to say anything about it though. It was like I wanted to keep the feeling I had while watching it, and talking about it would just ruin it.

I could say so much about how the film's cinematography was visually enthralling or how the acting seemed real and sincere, but I should probably get around to the book adaptation part. I am well aware that this film is based after the book of the same name (by Ned Vizzini) and I am hoping to pick up the book soon. I came into the theater with no prior judgement so I am not sure how readers of the books will feel about It's Kind of a Funny Story but I'd still suggest it since movies are never the same as the books anyway.

I will say this film is more of a teen-young adult go see more than anything else though. I can definitely tell you it's a better movie choice then most of the things out right now. How many movies have you seen in theaters and wished you just waited for it's dvd release? Now how many movies have you seen on dvd that you wished you saw in theaters? It's Kind of a Funny Story is one you should see in theaters because these days, American movie-goers are paying to see people get made fun of in 3-D and watch bombshells be assassins. With options like those, movies like these are thrust to the side. 

I'm not guaranteeing you'll love it like I did but you will most likely like it. It's at least a solid B on the grade scale. So if it's in a theater by you, see it. 

Art 118: Digital Painting

Traditional artwork, the use of pencils and charcoals and paints on paper and canvas and things of that nature, is a very difficult skill to master. You need to know what you want before you even get started and you also don't have much room for error. Digital art, on the other hand, while it's good to know what you may want to start out with, you have so much room for experimentation with colors in different layers and effects that you could completely change your mind about what your final product may be if you want to. Plus, any slip ups you make can be easily remedied by Ctrl+Z.

Even if you really like the traditional effects of using watercolors and the sort of graininess you can get from charcoals or the smudges of pastels and paints, many of these effects can be mimicked in digital art programs like Corel Painter and Adobe Photoshop, only you have the lovely convenience of being able to undo a bad stroke.


But of course, such programs can be really expensive, especially professional level Photoshops. Corel Painter 11's full package is $299, and the best Photoshop you can get to date, Photoshop CS5, is at a whopping $699. There are cheaper, smaller packages with plenty of tools you can use to achieve nearly the same effects, like with Photoshop Elements 9, which is mainly for editing photos.

Recently, however, DeviantART released a free online program called DA Muro for its members to use that has both basic and pro capabilities. If you ever wanted to try digital painting, now's the time. Membership with DeviantART is free, but you can subscribe with them for a fee if you don't want to see the advertisements and have a few extra features to display your profile page and gallery. Plus, you can share all of your artworks, whether they be traditional art, digital art, sculpture, textiles, photography, anything! And you can get feedback from fellow deviants about your works with comments and favorites. It's super fun, I promise.

If you are interested in digital painting at all, then I highly recommend purchasing a tablet. Wacom makes great tablets, and for those who are just starting out, you can get a Wacom Bamboo tablet with pen touch...


...for $69 and it even comes with Corel Painter Essentials 4, a sort of easier, watered-down version of Corel Painter 11 that still has plenty of features to do what you need to.

Poetry 118: Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou is a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Amidst brutal racial discrimination, her early life as a single mother working as a waitress to support her young son after dropping out of high school certainly required harrowing amounts of strength and perseverance. But her amazing passion for music, dance, performance, and poetry would soon help Maya Angelou to become the award-winning and world-renowned woman that she is today. *

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
A Poem By Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

Food 118: October Treats (Caramel Puffs)

Going into the third week of October recipes and still going strong! You can probably tell by now I  have a sweet tooth but don't worry, November is more of a meal kind of month with less desserts. This week I have a super easy one that might not sound so great but trust me they are. The tastes of all the things put together makes a tasty explosion in your mouth that you wouldn't believe! Crunchy, soft, salty, sweet and much more this is something you have to try! The best part? It takes about five minutes!

Serves: As many as you want!
Cook Time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients:
Marshmallows
Pretzel sticks
Caramel
Melting Chocolate

The Process:

Dip marshmallows halfway into the warm caramel. Let the excess drip off, then dip in crushed pretzels and place on a lightly oiled parchment-lined baking sheet until set. Drizzle with melted chocolate.

See? Easy enough. Enjoy! Any thoughts on recipes? I'd love to hear them!

Music 118: Grouplove

Every week I look through libraries of different artists of all different genres to find one I think is fit for a review (no joke). I do admit to doing collections of songs and such on here but being the Mix Tape musician of the week is a BIG deal. All the readers on here have such an eclectic and amazing taste in music it's hard to find an artist that fits everyones needs (it usually doesn't).  To find one artist almost every week that will hopefully please others is hard. This is exactly why I was lucky to find Grouplove (who will soon be touring with Two Door Cinema Club, Florence and the Machine, and The Joy Formidable. The upside to this? Tickets are CHEAP! Some nights it's only $10 dollars at the door, the most expensive I could find were $35. They will be touring from October 18th to November 16th (2010) so this review is just in time.

Grouplove, music echoes a faint reminder of The Shins surprised me one early morning when I found them online. I started listening and by the first song I was hooked. I was surprised to find out they only have an EP of five songs out (on Itunes) and they're aren't signed on any label yet. This came as a sort of bummer to me to know that they might never get the attention they deserve. The bright side to it all though is we get the perks of getting in on them early if they ever do become famous. Maybe I'm being too confident but I'm pretty sure someone will like them on here.

"We never could have dreamt this up" says Zucconi (band member), "but at the same time we're not at all surprised - Grouplove is meant to be. Our story a testament to fate, and our music is something we are ready to share."


Grouplove is: Christian Zucconi, Sean Gadd, Hannah Hooper, Ryan Rabin, and Andrew Wessen.


Grouplove Twitter.  (For band updates and shows.)


Grouplove Myspace. (For band updates, shows, music, how Grouplove met,  etc.)




So what did you think? Did I oversell them or are they as good as I said?

Movies 118 : Movie round up -the fun side of October

Why not start this off with a bang. I'm sure you've missed it. Even a show your grandpa can't help but laugh at (mine did). That infamous  Jackass in back. This time its coming at you in 3D. Is is worth the extra buck? Well, it pulled in $20 million on its first Friday. Stupidity is better than ever in 3D. Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Steve-O, Bam Magera and the list grows to all, who want to make a fool of themselves in this dangerous stunt marthon. FYI: The intro to the movie was supposed to feature all the stars being hit in the head while being filmed with a super slow-mo camera, but Bam Margera could not participate after a woman assaulted him in the back of the head with a bat which caused internal bleeding.

The movie delievers just what fans expect. No story. Definitely no plot. All sorts of pranks from midget bar fights to poop cocktails. Its crude with plenty of grotesque to keep you laughing, if this is your food for laughter. But expect to pay more if you see it in 3D or 2D.

Moving on to something your grandmother probably wouldn't mind watching with you. You Again. Once again, Betty White may have the best lines. Or is it the fact this woman can deliver a line that makes it funny? When Marni (Kristen Bell) realizes her brother is about to marry the girl who bullied her all of high school, she plans to expose the fiancée's (Odette Yustman) true colors.

Storyline: Marni and her brother Will (Jimmy Wolk) have always been close, and she's both devastated and furious when she discovers the bride-to-be is none other than her high school nemesis who now answers to the name Joanna. Marni's mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) is sympathetic, but tells Marni that high school is in the past and she needs to move on. That advice comes easily to Gail until she discovers Joanna's Aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) is her own high school nemesis.

Of course, it is kind of hard to even imagine Bell as not pretty in high school. The movie is rated PG.  Its rather a predictable movie. A bit of silly moments which of course Betty White gets away with perfectly. Just remember, if you go, stay for after the credits.

Then we have that long awaited Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel movie. Life as We Know It. Its the story of two single adults who become caregivers to an orphaned girl when their mutual best friends die in an accident. You've got Holly (Heigl) so femine and up and coming in her career along with macho Messer (Duhamel) who don't exactly hit it off in the dating world, but they come together to raise Sophie in, of course, the perfect house. The real scene stealer in the movie is not quite a year old, Sophie played by triplets Alexis, Brynn and Brooke Clagett. Its definitely a pro-family movie. Predictable romance. The story is by Ian Deitchman and Kristin Rusk Robinson. You've got two of the hottest stars in this romantic comedy. There is bound to have something to make you laugh and pull at your heart, as well. If you are looking for a date night film, this might be it.

Food 117: October Treats (Caramel Apples)

Okay, I'd be lying if I said it was easy finding the next recipe for this month. There are so many different levels of cooking and so many themed recipes to pick from. I couldn't pick something too hard or complicated but I didn't want to make something too easy. I finally found Caramel Apples though and they're perfect. They might  be a little easy but  I think it'd be the perfect thing to make with friends! You might think it sounds easy but the fun part is making the caramel!


Cook Time: 15 mins. 
Serves: 6


Ingredients: 
2 cups of sugar
1/4 cup of light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup of heavy cream  
cooking spray
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extra
pinch of salt
apples (6)
6 sticks (cooking ones)


Instructions: 


Mix 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture is light amber and a candy thermometer registers 320 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream, then 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Return to low heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool until the caramel is thick enough to coat a spoon. Insert sticks into the stem ends of 6 apples and dip the apples into the caramel, letting the excess drip off. Roll in toppings if desired, then let cool on a parchment-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray.


Enjoy!