The Famous Lambton Worm

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Fred Watson

Are you planning a holiday England? Instead of London and the south, why not try the north east of England? It is a region steeped in history, where the natives are friendly, the golden beaches are long and the countryside magnificent. If you like to shop, eat, drink and be merry, make Newcastle upon Tyne - the party capital of the north - your base. Visit China Town, Eldon Square, the Bigg Market and the quayside areas for your shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

There are masses of places to visit nearby and one of them is Penshaw Monument. Travel south from Newcastle on the A1 or the A19 and if you haven't been to the area before, you may be surprised to see a Greek temple dominating the skyline. The temple stands on Penshaw Hill and was built in 1844 by Thomas Pratt as a memorial to the first Earl Of Durham, John George Lambton. Follow the path that winds up the hill for magnificent views of Durham and the river Wear.

Penshaw, the Wear and the Lambton family in particular, feature in the legend of The Lambton Worm. The worm in question was no ordinary common all garden worm, but was, despite it's small beginnings, a worm or wyrm that grew into a giant snakelike dragon. The local myth was adapted in 1867 from an oral tradition into a pantomime song, written by C. M. Leumane and performed on stage at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

There are at least two versions of the song, one in the Northumbrian dialect and the other in the Wearside dialect. One of which is below and since it is in dialect the following word translations may help.

whisht = quiet / haad = hold / yer = your / gobs =mouths / aa'll = I'll / ye = you / aboot = about, heuk = hook / thowt = thought / leukt = looked / varry = very / whatnt = what / oer = of / waas = was / waddnt fash = couldn't be bothered / hyem = home / hoyed = threw / noo = now / gann = go / an = and / nowther = neither / seun = soon / growed = grew / greet = great / neet = night / coos = cows / swally = swallow / brairns = children / hed = had / craaled = crawled / gannings = goings / knaa = know / byeth = both / hoo = how / hev = have.

The Lambton Worm.

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
An' aa'll tell ye an awful story,
Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
An' aa'll tell yer aboot the worm.

On Sunday morning lambton went,
A'fishing in the Wear.
And catched a fish upon his heuk.
He thowt leukt varry queer,
But whatnt kind oer fish it waas,
Young Lambton couldn't tell-
He waddnt fash tu carry it hyem,
So he hoyed it in a well

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
etc, etc.

Noo Lambton felt inclined to gann,
An' fight in foreign wars,
He joined a group of knights that cared,
For nowther wounds nor scars,
An' off he went to Palestine,
Where queer things him befell,
An' very seun forgot aboot,
The queer worm I the well.

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
etc, etc.

But the worm got fat an growed
and growed,
An' growed an awful size,
Hee'd greet big teeth, and a greet big gob,
An greet big goggly eyes,
A when at neet he craaled aboot,
Ta pick up bits a' news,
If he felt dry upon the road,
he sucked a dozen coos

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
etc, etc.

This fearful worm wad often feed,
On calves an lambs an sheep,
An swally little bairns alive,
When they laid down to sleep,
An when he'd eaten aa'll he could,
An he had hed his fill,
He craaled away and wrapped his tail,
Ten times round Penshaw hill.

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
etc, etc.

The news ov this most aaful worm,
And his queer gannins on,
Seun crossed the seas an got t' the ears,
Of brave and bold Sir John,
So hyem he came and catched the beast,
And cut him in two halves,
An that seun stopped him eatin bairns,
An sheep and lambs an calves.

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
etc, etc.

So now ye knaa hoo aal thu folks
On byeth sides o'er the Wear,
Lost lots o' sheep an lots o' sleep,
An lived in mortal fear,
So let's hev one to brave Sir John
That kept thu bairns frae harm
Saved coos and calves
By making halves
Of the famous Lambton Worm.

Copyright Fred Watson 2007.

Fred Watson published his first book, a fantasy adventure novel aimed at the 8-12 age group, in September 2006. A grandfather of four, he loves to write for all age groups and continues on a regular basis to add new stories to his website. Footprint Publishing

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Celebrities - Find out what they are doing

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Roberto Bell

We all, expecially the youngest, use to take a singer or an actor as an idol, we all have our favourite. But most of the times they are not so perfect as we think. Now or then they finish to clean their closet and a lot of dirty came out.

Our children look movies like High School Musical and one of the character have the sex pictures hobby, o what if our child search in internet her pics because she is her idol? Well I guess is better he look for someone else as idol.

And what happend to the adorable Linsday Lohan? After her scandalous picture and drug affair, no there are also some tape on internet. Probably she is thinking to be another kind of actress, for adult movie!

Fortunately some shining star still resiste to the temptation to be a "bad girl", like Eva Longoria, who is having success not only in USA but also in Europe, or Hilary Duff and Jessica Alba both nice girls and actress.

Is good to be informated about the celebrities not only for do some gossip with friends, but also for know better what kind of person our idols really are.

Romano is the owner of The-Gossip. He find usefull store all the most interesting news in just one place for the pleasure of his visitors. You can find more information about him at His personal Website.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Inner voice of Mark Birros. II.

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by roystona

From world war two in the Atlantic
I hear the drowning cries of men,
climbing out, as in spirit, from waters
that lap the steps of the harbour wall ;
time erodes as the sea -
washing up these thoughts that linger
here and on many beaches,
thoughts that stick and have the stench
of used oil around them,
the name on a memorial
does not reflect the horror ;
the surf rejects such cogitation ;
for a moment, ' try again '
the gulls seemed to say,
' let go ' said the movement of the ocean,
but I cannot, I simply cannot
for what transcends these waves
and breathes out the universe
is love, the love of a father.... ... ...


The old clock ticks away the day
that haemorrhages the evening,
and like a night- nurse at the bed
as growing lesions slowly spread,
the crescent moon would nothing say
to see the patient pass away ;
the stars call out but they are late -
what metaphysics spring from that
while in my soul eternity
is smiling like the Cheshire cat !...
A presence haunts me as that touch -
that hugs the heels in failing light,
with eyes that peer through space and time
and follow me into the night.... ...


The pine wood has its secrets -
I am one of them now,
like the columns of an ancient temple,
straight and upright
where no priest intercedes -
I trust it with my life,
I am theirs and they are mine,
growing inside me, sturdily and strong,
transcending their roots with my secrets
to their archetypal heaven... ... ...


As if a change of consciousness was meant,
against the pull of ego, the body
inwardly swept up in spiral ascent,
spirited away from me
from all the world below,
from all that I would ever be
that anyone might know ;
raised the cloaked arm
of my archetype
to draw the void across my eyes,
and I did rise to heights of bliss
to see the world from this -
dancing in vortices, tiptoeing on pools
as through a mesh, devoid of flesh ;
our world is an illusion -
a carousel to light,
as in the midst of heaven
we ghost on through the night... ...


Listening to that small male thrush
round the spire, above the yew,
singing at the midnight hush
as if the stars were listening too.
So crystal clear, beyond the word ,
beyond the miles we count in years,
a cosmos in a tiny bird
but then, it does through us, have ears,
a miracle beyond the veil,
and it would move my heart to weep,
to share with you that nightingale
in silence, with the earth asleep... ...


Stars seem captive tonight, out there
held by their own gravity,
and so am I in thinking
space would mirror
the freedom of my inward gaze :
All life is light, the light
that fills the external void
while within, that feeling of space,
the loving space we make
where others live and move,
that space is freedom, loves expression
thus love is also life as well as light.
The face of youthful being
is mainly green and vain,
until it comes to know
that inside beauty
that hides it's timeless age,
where an old man in time
hides his ageless youth... ...


As if the quiet moon
had hypnotised the wood to give it mood,
how her secondary light silouhettes the owl
that blinks to my startle, and with one lid alone
captivates the sunlight in the dark ;
what aeons forged its silent passage
to alight unnoticed,
poised like a star on the void's abyss
to perch on a bough !
Conjured up that spell-cast form
to present it for nature's night,
with that tremulous call
the most lunar song of all,
to fly unhurried on its way
though seldom by the light of day -
from shade to shade pure spirit
as if the turning world, knew it ?.. ... ...


Rays at sunrise, like a chord
fill the mountain air with song,
all vibrations to a word
reminiscent of a gong !
Grandeur is the rolling earth
turning to a morning sky,
questioning the golden eagle
does not the dawn imply the eye ?
To see the sheepdog with the sheep
run those foothills to the scar,
how solid ripples in the rock
are fluid echoes of a star !
A clutch of eggs the hue of sky
as if the sky had learned to fly ;
to fill the mountain air with song
now reminiscent of a gong !... ... ...


Sometimes a presence, walks with me
as if to share my life,
so like that star above, that casts
my shadow with its own light,
walks through the gulls with me
and round the scaurs,
along the margin where the tide roars,
the line of tide along the sand
and the life-line upon my hand ;
seeking the spirit is like looking for the wind,
not finding the wind but only what the wind does ;
a presence within, as if from beyond
where the mind cannot reach as it meets transcendence-
as my eye is dissolved by blue sky ;
with me, it seems, all day, in endless moments,
a gentle companion,
'til the mundane world returns, to span,
fill the depths and shrink the man.


Tall trees, transcend
with magnificent beauty,
as if they had forgotten
their roots that fed on earth,
as my old gnarled thoughts, discarded
are the shed leaves of my mind;
snowdrops come, surprising,
each blossom, white, seems prodigal,
discoloured brown and going, going,
gone - but not forgotten yet,
late daffodils, trumpet their last notes
like that sound of 'one hand clapping'
and in dying, bend and bow to sacred ground;
ubiquitous bird-song, clear,
I make no scent or sound among the deer
when in spirit here... ... ...


The light that lifts my mind
has given that old oak another cycle, -
rising to awake from sleep,
dying for our contemplation,
and almost in vain
as if condemned with ball and chain
to pull us through these endless orbits,
while underneath our feet earth trembles
agitated at the heart... ... ...


I feel the Atlantic
connect me far and wide,
the whispered rush of surf
from its incoming tide,
under mackerel sky
cosmic in its movement,
lapping at my feet here
like a humble servant ;
for do the heavens lie
above these starlit shores ?
look through your spirit's eye -
you'll know the world is yours.... ... ...


We picked the fruit of Osho 's thoughts
that sounded like a harp,
then gave him belladonna
when the fruit was sweet and sharp,
entangled in a world of fear
we reached across that rift
and murdered him
without the thorn's reminder of a gift... ... ...



The sun is getting low now,
long evening shadows quell the song of shrike,
a heron with legs hanging, lifting from a dyke,
content to fly beyond the last disturbance ;
flecks above the sky - line are geese migrating
with winter in their wake, like lines of script
that prohesy, their trail across the barren moon,
counterpoint the life on earth,
lead the eye to the horizon ; as darkness grows
around them, the stars appear as something
not quite forgotten, seem to infer
that feeling as a spell cast -
not only on the eye above between the eyes
but upon the whole beautiful earth
that in floating like an apparition
was going nowhere through a void of meaning... ...
The whirling dervish, reels for stillness and for joy... ...
Tidal as these waters that erode their channels
through the reeds, a feeling comes and goes
of warmth that infiltrates my being,
as gradual as I come to be
the silence that the curlew punctuates ;
the world in me is mine
as the world in you is yours, -
even the remotest twinkle of light ;
beyond all this,
all is alone and one.

From the mysticseed:Towards Atman: http://www.zalivanda.com/id3.html

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Beginning Photography Tips to Learning Your Owner's Manual

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Lonnie Kunkel

Reading your camera's owner manual is probably one of the best beginning photography tips. After you get past the initial excitement of your new camera and learning the basic operations, you might get eager to go out and try the camera.

Even though some of the new terms can be confusing or seem to be too much information to digest. If you don't read the entire manual, you limit yourself by not learning some of the most useful and helpful features your new camera offers.

Start by reading the overview of your camera's features and then choose what you would like to learn how to do the most. Pick one feature and learn how to use it. Don't worry if it isn't completely clear, that will come in time.

Now take start using this special feature. Try all the different settings within this one feature. See how your pictures change. Explore what this feature does. Don't stop until you know this feature inside and out and don't go onto the next feature until you have fully explored this one.

When you know the ins and outs of one feature, pick another one you would like to learn. Rinse and repeat.

By working through the owner's manual, it won't be so overwhelming. The hands-on practice will help you learn it thoroughly. When you have covered all the great things your camera can do, go out and enjoy them all. You will be glad you took the time to learn how to use this great instrument.

Lonnie Kunkel is a photographer and graphic designer. You can learn more beginning photography tips at http://www.fisheyezen.com

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

The Carpenters Biography And Top 10 Songs

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Andy Jackson

This is another band I have to thank my sis P for getting me into. When we were little kids my sister used to watch the Karen Carpenter Story over and over when we were on our 6 weeks holiday from school, and I used to pretend I didn't like it for a while because it was "girly" but eventually I gave in and then we used to sing all the songs together when they came on.

The Carpenters consisted of brother (Richard) and sister (Karen) and they were born in New Haven, Connecticut. Richard was born in 1946 and Karen in 1950. The Carpenters moved to California and it was at Downey High School where Karen joined the school marching band and her teacher had also previously taught her brother. They signed to A&M Records in 1969 under the name "Carpenters" (not "The Carpenters" which most people think they were called) and released their first album (Offering) which had a cover of the Beatles song "Ticket To Ride".

The Carpenters have had many popular singles over the years (We've Only Just Begun, Close To You, Rainy Days And Mondays, Yesterday Once More) and still get played regularly on radio even now. They won several awards during the early 1970's (Best New Artist - 1970, Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group - 1971) and were nominated for many more. Between 1971 and 1975 they played a total of 814 concerts and had 19 TV appearances.

Karen Carpenter became anorexic and died only a month before her 33rd birthday in 1983. She suffered from heart failure whilst at her parents home in California and was taken to Downey Community hospital where she passed away 20 minutes later. The cause of death was cardiac arrest and the coroner stated "heartbeat irregularities brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa". Karen's death was possibly the starting point of the media publicising the actual effects of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia as diseases and not just mental problems and many other celebrities opened up and admitted they also had eating disorders such as Lady Diana, Princess Of Wales.

After Karen's death Richard released some new albums including some unreleased material and several compilation albums and as I mentioned there have also been several documentaries and TV shows over the years, my favourite being The Karen Carpenter Story.

My Top 10 Carpenters songs are:

01. Top Of The World
02. Superstar
03. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
04. Please, Mr. Postman
05. Yesterday Once More
06. Sweet, Sweet Smile
07. (They Long To Be) Close To You
08. Touch Me When We're Dancing
09. We've Only Just Begun
10. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft

My name is Andy I'm 31 and I'm from Manchester, UK I like to read a lot (Discworld, Sci-Fantasy) and listen to music (The Doors, Wu-Tang, Amy Winehouse, Kaiser Chiefs, Blondie, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix). I also try to be a skateboarder when I get time and dry weather. Please view and leave comments on my blog which contains lots more music reviews. http://my-top-music-reviews.blogspot.com

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

The Newest Hollywood Movie Trailers Are HERE

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Robert "Raintowers"

Upcoming movie trailers are sometimes as entertaining as the feature movie itself. I find myself spending a large amount of time watching just the trailers. Then I'm satisfied and don't even need to watch a full featured movie!

Since I love movie trailers I created a new movie trailer site. New movie trailers are added on a regular basis, and the current sampling includes The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, WALLE, Hitman, Horton Hears A Who, I Am Legend, The Seeker: The Dark is Rising and many more.

Movie trailers are an important part of the cinematic experience. Research shows that movie trailers are the most-watched video material on the Web. Sometimes the movie trailers are better than the actual films.

Consumers who watch online movie trailers are far more likely to turn to the Internet first for information about new movies.

Movie trailers are coming out earlier and earlier these days.

"Walt Disney's Bolt," "Narnia 2," "WALLE," and "Rapunzel" are examples as of this date in late March 2008.

WALLE!

I'm sorry but I can't wait to see the movie WALLE. I hope the trailers that I've watched are as good as the full movie!

When you're deciding which movie to watch (either at the theater or DVD store) do you watch movie reviews or movie trailers? I say watch the movie trailers and although the trailers can sometimes be misleading, you'll get the just of the movie quickly and if it fits the action, romance or drama you think you want to see then you're good to go!

Come on, online movie trailers are what broadband was created for, right?

It's been real fun building my movie trailer site. One of the biggest challenges is finding a way to display the movies witout getting lost in the navigation or bombard the viewers with ads that interupt the flow of the site. I do believe I've found this balance and the popularity of the site is increasing which must mean something is right... I think?

My movie trailers site uses a flash player for all the movies so that you don't have to think about which player you need to watch the movie with. Most browsers have flash these days so that helps in keeping the members watching the previews they want to see without frustrating them with selections they shouldn't have to make when trying to get their daily fix of the latest movies coming out.

There's nothing I dislike more than to be bombarded with ads, then have to select a movie player, install it and then... ummm what was I doing again... oh ya I was checking my email. You see what I mean?

On the link below you can find a complete list of titles for which we have high quality movie trailers for your viewing pleasure. They Look real great in full screen too so you be the judge.

Rober aka "Raintowers" is the web master for E4LMovieTrailers.com. He's built an up-and-coming movie trailers site where you can find fast, high quality movie previews and there's even free online games.
E4LMovieTrailers.com/

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

The Underrated James Boswell

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Mr Rambler

It would be generally agreed that the greatest literary figure of the 18th Century was Dr Samuel Johnson.
In terms of enduring influence, this assessment is probably correct. He set the foundations of the modern English that we speak today, with his Dictionary of 1755; and had the wisdom and humility to recognise that he was performing an act of description, rather than prescription, thus leaving the language free to develop in harmony with changing times, deriving its force and vigour from the collective genius of the language population, rather than from a national Academy, on the French model or as advocated by Dean Swift some decades earlier. Johnson stated, correctly, that this would be contrary to English notions of liberty (in the introduction to his Dictionary).

He was also responsible for elevating Shakespeare from his status as a good playwright to his current position of international pre-eminence, by pointing out overlooked subtleties of the Bard's writing in his
Edition of Shakespeare, published 1765, and came to be regarded as an authority on literature in a degree attained by no other critic before or since.

He is probably best known to the general public for the number of quotes attributable to him; so many that an example would be pointless, and a comprehensive list overwhelming. He is the third most prolific source of quotes in English after the Bible and Shakespeare.

If asked for a list of rivals to Johnson as the greatest literary figure of the 18th Century, we would probably hear the names of Jonathan Swift, Henry Fielding, Samuel Richardson, Oliver Goldsmith, and possibly others. Most lists would omit the name of James Boswell. Yet James Boswell produced the greatest literary work of that century with his 'Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D'.

In writing it he succeeded in establishing himself as a minimal observing and recording presence, allowing the spotlight to stay firmly aimed on the central figure, the Great Cham himself. This use of self-minimalisation as a literary device, and the fact that he only produced one major work, has lead him to be remembered as an accessory to Johnson. Yet Johnson's most noted works were of lexicography and criticism; his artistic creativity was limited and laboured. He was very great, and because of his influence felt to this day, probably was the greatest figure.
Without Boswell, we would still revere Shakespeare and English would still be fit for purpose above all other languages; the quotes would be gone or less used.

Because of one great work, Johnson, has however one serious rival for the greatest literary figure of the 18th century, the alcoholic, fornicating, possibly sycophantic James Boswell, without whom Johnson would still be an influence, but one generally unseen, and known only as a footnote to academics. Raise a glass to the great James Boswell.

Links: http://www.DrSamuelJohnson.com http://johnsontourettes.webeden.co.uk http://boswell.webeden.co.uk

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Celebrities - Find out what they are doing

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Roberto Bell

We all, expecially the youngest, use to take a singer or an actor as an idol, we all have our favourite. But most of the times they are not so perfect as we think. Now or then they finish to clean their closet and a lot of dirty came out.

Our children look movies like High School Musical and one of the character have the sex pictures hobby, o what if our child search in internet her pics because she is her idol? Well I guess is better he look for someone else as idol.

And what happend to the adorable Linsday Lohan? After her scandalous picture and drug affair, no there are also some tape on internet. Probably she is thinking to be another kind of actress, for adult movie!

Fortunately some shining star still resiste to the temptation to be a "bad girl", like Eva Longoria, who is having success not only in USA but also in Europe, or Hilary Duff and Jessica Alba both nice girls and actress.

Is good to be informated about the celebrities not only for do some gossip with friends, but also for know better what kind of person our idols really are.

Romano is the owner of The-Gossip. He find usefull store all the most interesting news in just one place for the pleasure of his visitors. You can find more information about him at His personal Website.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Who Killed Heath Ledger?

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Arthor Pens

The first time I saw Heath Ledger, it was by accident. My date and later to-be husband, Nick, took me to see 'The Sixth Sense', finally succumbing to peer pressure to guess 'the big surprise ending. By now, 'The Sixth Sense' was off the major theater chain circuit and only screening in small suburban independent theaters, which led us to experience one of those now rare events: a double-feature matinee. The first movie was '10 Things I Hate About You'.

Well passed 'teen movies, even those with Shakespearian-based scripts, we shyly admitted to liking 10 Things. Wow, I really like the male lead, what was his name? "He's Australian, you know", replied Nick. And in typical Aussie-fashion, I was doubly impressed and now stupidly filled with national pride. Another brilliant Australian up-and-comer to join the rapidly increasing queue to grace Hollywood screens.

Years later, I would often grab the DVD to fill a cheerless afternoon and find myself watching and rewinding the same scene. Over and over and over again. My secret guilty pleasure. Heath sliding down the pole, microphone in hand, singing "You're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off of you …" The brass band kicks in. And that charmingly defiant half-run, half-prancing across the school steps. The scene is brilliant. It's inexplicable. He simply has that old-fashioned 'it' factor.

I'm not a star-struck fan and was never one of those teenagers with movie-star idol posters plastered all over my bedroom walls, but this kids got talent.

And then came those scene-stealing roles that totally blew us away. The Patriot. Monsters Ball. And finally leading-man status and an Academy Award nomination. By now, we were just used to having another famous Australian up there with the rest of the world's great talent churning out an endless array of diverse, yet illustrious film roles.

We had no idea. It was not endless. It was not what we expected.

When people who I've never met but greatly admire die, I'm sad. But I've never cried before. I have never before felt that heart wrenching overwhelming shock that lasted for days after I heard the news. This time it was somehow more personal. As soon as I read the detailed list of the first report of his deathbed scene, I intuitively knew how he died.
Ten days later the final medical examiners report confirmed my suspicions.

Hollywood is 'Xanax-city. Feeling down, pop a Xanax. Feeling stressed, pop a Xanax. Need to perform at your very best, pop a Xanax. A-list stars feel the pressure to provide A-grade performances when working on multi-million dollar films. There's too much money at stake. The intense stress, both internal and external, is immeasurable. The studios are risking billions, paying the stars millions, and the actors are unnaturally subjected to more pressure than we mere mortals can imagine.

Heath Ledger, himself, admitted that after the worldwide release of A Knights Tale with its instant paparazzi-bulb-flashing stardom, his stress levels increased ten-fold.

Xanax is the trade name of the generic anti-anxiety/tranquillizer prescription drug, alprazolam, listed in Ledgers toxicity report. The other anti-anxiety drug was diazepam, or more commonly known as Valium. These drugs are from a class of commonly prescribed tranquilizers known as benzodiazepines or simply referred to as benzos.

According to the latest National Health Study, approximately 10 million scripts of benzos are written annually in Australia alone with its meagre population of 20 million compared to 300 million in the US.

Many doctors will write a script for benzos faster than a speeding bullet. But the real danger is that too many of them do not know the long-term effects these drugs have on your system, how to give their patients the correct advice when administering or monitoring the dosages, and – more frighteningly - how to manage their patients benzo withdrawal program.
Firstly, this is how benzos affect your body – or more importantly – your brain. Benzodiazepines increase, or rather, enhance your brains main neurotransmitter, commonly known as GABA. Eventually, and this can be as quickly as 3 to 4 weeks if taking a daily dose, your brain will stop producing its own GABA and rely totally on the artificial benzo.

GABA is the most important neurotransmitter because it affects just about everything else. Primarily it enhances the brains other neurotransmitters such as Serotonin and Dopamine. All of the brains neurotransmitters have important functions such as, voluntary movement of the muscles, wakefulness, sleep, memory function, sensory transmission - especially pain, and much, much more.

The problem is that from this point on your brain needs more benzo as tolerance starts the downward spiral, and the brain needs higher and higher dosages to obtain the same effect. If the patient is not given the correct dosage or management advice, that insidious and often-undiagnosed disorder known as Benzo Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS) will start its ugly and potentially dangerous descent.

BWS is known by experts in the field for its severity and prolonged nature. It may take years to fully withdraw from benzos, even with proper care and supervision. Without this knowledge, the unwitting patient can suffer from over 30 symptoms, the most common being unrelenting insomnia, severe pain and mood changes. People who have been taking benzos for a relatively short time can experience withdrawal symptoms even whilst taking the drug. In addition, if you have been taking them for a prolonged time, and then suddenly stop, dire circumstances may happen. Or, at the very least, more pain, more depression and unrelenting insomnia.

When we now read about Heath Ledgers complaints, does this sound familiar? Everything points to extreme Benzo Withdrawal, but no-one is exclaiming its dangers. In fact, most GPs and even hospital doctors admit they know very little about Benzo Withdrawal. Some even refer their patients to drug rehabilitation centers – an absolute no-no according to benzo counselors. Benzo withdrawal is the exact opposite to alcohol or street drug dependency. You don't want to abruptly eliminate the benzo from your body, as they often do in drug rehabilitation. The brain needs the benzo. One must gradually withdraw the artificial benzo until the brain can eventually increase its own GABA. Sudden cessation of benzos can cause severe problems such as seizures and blackouts.

When in BWS, the counselors advise against taking any medication or drugs whatsoever. Paracetamol is probably the only thing the body can cope with for pain relief. Nothing else. Even codeine is forbidden. Also, one should totally refrain from alcohol, caffeine, and all stimulants. There is a strong protocol to be followed and without this knowledge, the patient is easily put at great risk.

The Ashton Manual, the acknowledged benzodiazepine 'bible, warns:

"Drug interactions: Benzodiazepines have additive effects with other drugs with sedative actions including other hypnotic's, some antidepressant's (e.g. amitriptyline [Elavil], doxepin [Adapin, Sinequan]), major tranquilizers or neuroleptics (e.g. prochlorperazine [Compazine], trifluoperazine [Stelazine]), anticonvulsant's (e.g. phenobarbital, phenytoin [Dilantin], carbamazepine [Atretol, Tegretol]), sedative antihistamines (e.g. diphenhydramine [Benadryl], promethazine [Phenergan]), opiates (heroin, morphine, meperidine), and, importantly, alcohol. Patients taking benzodiazepines should be warned of these interactions. If sedative drugs are taken in overdose, benzodiazepines may add to the risk of fatality."

The real problem is that there are extremely few experts in treating BWS; they will not include your local doctor, hospital, or drug clinic. However, there are good BWS specialists that can be extremely helpful, but they are usually found in specially funded tranquillizer recovery clinics.

One must ask, why don't doctors know about this? The problem is they simply don't. Is it their fault or the pharmaceutical companies that profit from these addictions? There is little or no dissemination of information within the community, the medical fraternity or from the pharmaceutical companies about benzodiazepines. And, according to BWS counselors working in the field, there is insufficient research or empirical studies on the effects of benzos and BWS management to assist them with their intensive workload's.

Why? Who is at fault? Who is responsible for remedying the situation? Why are the people who write the scripts uninformed about the after-effects and potential dangers associated with benzodiazepines?

Can our beloved Heath Ledgers death be at least one catalyst that will draw this devastating travesty to the public's attention to demand more information?

I hope so.

Ann Marosy is an Australian author and freelance journalist.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Lights! Camera! Action!

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by John & Anita

Have you ever thought you had what it takes to direct your own movies? Maybe, you just love taking video of your kids. And what's the thrill of making a movie if you can't share it with the world…or at least your immediate family and friends?

Grouper Networks has just taken photo-sharing to the next level. With the creation of their free software called Grouper, people are now able to share their videos over the Web. This unique service continues to grow in popularity. Since the launch of Grouper 2.0 in late 2005, over 50,000 videos and photos have been shared over the Web.

Now, you too can share your video with the world for—here's the best part – FREE! Grouper allows you to perform unlimited fast and easy batch uploading. You can send links to your friends who can watch and download your videos. Want to chat about your video with family and friends? Well, you are in luck. Grouper allows you and up to twenty-nine of your nearest and dearest family members and friends to gab in real time.

Have a MySpace, Friendster, or blog page? You can even post your video and have it play right to your page, or download it to your iPod or PlaystationPortable. You don't have to worry about any size restrictions on your video uploads either because Grouper doesn't have any. Streaming previews of your movies are limited to three minutes, however if members have the bandwidth, they can download your full movies.

To ensure that its customers aren't using the free software to share copyrighted materials or perform other unlawful activities, Grouper's multimedia application prevents the distribution of protected music or video files and limits the number of people with whom users can share their content.

To use Grouper, you must download a small application from their website. Once you have installed the software, you can import video from your camcorder, create short movies ("Groovies"), and then choose to either share them with the public or keep them private. Video sharing is easy and fun! Are you ready for your close-up? Lights! Camera! Action!

John & Anita
KISS Advantage

P.S. Make Money. Big Money! with your digital camera.
Go to: http://go2-url.com/arudrx

Husband & Wife internet marketing team.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Criminal Movies. Criminal Records

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Born4thesurf-11606

I'm a criminal. There. I've said it. In fact, I may even be a terrorist. Perhaps that has you intrigued? Does it make you eager to read on? Are you wondering whether I feel remorse? How about whether I can justify my actions? Or would you like me to, for God's sake, just stop asking these annoying and presumptuous questions, and tell us how many people you've killed, already? I haven't killed anyone. Sorry. I haven't injured anyone either. Not even a paper-cut. In this broadband-enabled age, though, terrorism doesn't have to be nearly as hands-on an occupation as it used to be. Thankfully. Because as well as being someone who sits on his increasingly fat arse typing all day, and consequently wouldn't graduate from even the Cornish Liberation Army's boot camp, I'm actually a bit of a pacifist. Yep, I abhor violence. Except, perhaps, against Michael Flatley. There are always acceptable exceptions. And Celine Dion. She really should be stopped before it's too late. But besides them, yep, I'm pacifist. Sorry to let you down.

Still, pacifist or not, I am a terrorist. Quite definitely.

No, really. There's no getting around the fact. I've even committed a terrorist act - Hollywood says so: I downloaded a movie. For free. Just the once; but piracy funds terrorism, remember? I'm the terrorist equivalent of a passive smoker.

Bit of an anticlimax that, wasn't it? But if you're a regular visitor of the multiplex you're probably used to them. Piracy funds terrorism. Hollywood funds mediocrity. Not morally equivalent, but as statements, equally true?

I don't know, but I'd be more inclined to argue with the first one. And argue I shall.

ME: Oi, statement! You're not true.
STATEMENT: Oh yeah?
ME: Well you're not. Not entirely.
STATEMENT: I am! (PAUSE) Are you starting?

Well, that's not getting us very far, and as a pacifist, no, I'm not starting. So let's try another approach: anecdotal evidence. But first a quick critique of the above scene: At first the plot seems slight, but the statement's unnecessary aggression is the key point. The statement is pure overreaction. Still, the dialogue's a bit lame.
Now, on with the anecdotal evidence.

For the time being, let's switch tracks to music piracy and the days of home taping: back in the 80's and early 90's it was killing music, apparently. Not that that seemed very difficult to believe in an era that contained solo records by Phil Collins. Or entirely unwelcome.

It must have been about 1989 or 1990 that I discovered the music section of the library near my secondary school. It was a revelation: suddenly a world of possibilities was right in front of me. Well, musical possibilities; but better a world of musical possibilities than a single oyster, which seems to be the usual alternative. I gathered up as many likely looking cassettes as my meagre pocket money would stretch to, and was soon at home, happily lost in music.

New music. Sounds I hadn't heard before, and would want to hear again. And again. And again. Certainly more often than a month's loan would allow. But how? Thankfully, I had a new ghetto-blaster (as we embarrassingly called the things), with two cassette decks and high-speed dubbing. And a pile of TDK-90s: some blank, some containing music I'd recorded off the radio and no longer wanted. If I wasn't a pirate already (and I guess I was), then I certainly was by the time that month had ended. Not that I knew.

By the end of my teens, I must have had a few hundred copied albums, had probably borrowed half as many again, and I might even have copied the odd copy for someone else. I was also well aware, by that time, that my frequent copyings had not been strictly legal. But the thing was, who had they hurt?

Certainly not TDK, my favourite brand of cassettes, nor Duracell, whose products powered my walkman, nor JVC who'd made it, and the one before that. Not the artists whose albums I couldn't, anyway, have afforded to buy, and who at least got a small lending royalty from the library. Not the ones whose music I liked so much that I had to have the real thing - photos, artwork, lyrics. And definitely not the many artists who, since I have had money of my own, have benefited and will benefit from the music obsession that all that taping helped to nurture - I now have hundreds of CDs, and as for all the gigs I've attended…

Of course, things could have been a bit different.

These days, I would probably have been one of those kids sued by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for file-sharing. Would I have gone on to pour thousands of pounds into the music industry? No. I doubt it. And I probably wouldn't be listening to music while writing this either. And what does that say about current anti-piracy methods?

To be fair, the music industry does seem to be starting to catch on to the idea of the Long Tail. Slowly. But what of the movie industry?

The movie I downloaded was a film called Ariel, by the Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki. It's not widely available on DVD in England; at least not without paying way over the odds or learning enough Finnish to navigate cheaper stockists. Believe me, I've googled it. In fact, google it and you'll find torrent listings before you'll find an IMDb entry. (These terrorists are getting very brazen, aren't they? Not to mention clever, funding their operations through free downloads and adverts that barely cover their operating costs).

As for the film: thoroughly recommended if you like deadpan laconic gloom. In fact, I told a Finnish friend how much I liked it and now have five more Kaurismäki films - all on DVD, and all actually paid for. So wouldn't you say that my downloading actually made money for the film industry?

Perhaps, genuine piracy does fund terrorism, - I don't know, I'm not an investigative reporter - but not all piracy. In fact, free movie downloads, like home-taping, might be helping keep an industry afloat. A movie download isn't necessarily a lost sale: most of the time it just lets someone see something they never would have done. And where does that lead? To a love of a certain director, a certain actor, sometimes even a writer. To future DVD purchases, future ticket sales, and, if the movie was any good, to internet buzz. Hollywood runs on hype. And what better hype-generator is there than the internet?

Actually, maybe that's what Hollywood's really worried about: if we have advance warning of its expensive turkeys, it'll have to start making better films. And about time too.

Movie download war is upon us but movie downloads are available out there legally by using 100% official sites such as Vizumi and Apple.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Top Ten Boxing Movies

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

Boxing is a combat sport of English origin in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. Victory is achieved if the opponent is knocked down and unable to get up before the referee counts to ten (a Knockout, or KO) or if the opponent is deemed too injured to continue (a Technical Knockout, or TKO). If there is no stoppage of the fight before an agreed number of rounds, a winner is determined either by the referee's decision or by judges' scorecards.

In the passage above boxing is explained as two people fighting of similar weight, however rarely of similar backgrounds. In ancient times gladiators were pited against each other to fight to their deaths for entertainment. A gladiator was often the underdog fighting for survival against a superior force.

On the big screen boxing movies have become more successful than any other sports related film. Boxing movies such as Rocky and million Dollar Baby are the only sports related films to win Acadamey Awards for Best Picture.

Directors of boxing movies have the great ability of creating characters with so much in common with the audience. Characters who come from disadvantage backgrounds that are used to scrapping for food and money to support families and loved ones, thus when it comes to fighting for survival in a boxing ring they have what it takes to win.

However they never have the guidance or confidence to realize their full potential. This is where directors creates a kind, lovable, knowledgeable character who acts as a father figure and mentor. The audience is then taken on a journey of these two characters quest for glory which involves some of the following, heartbreak, struggle, sacrifice and belief.

In any sport no matter what it is people will be drawn naturally to the underdog and cheer for them. People don't like favorites winning unless of course they have the favorite backed! This is where directors create another character one that the audience dislikes, rude, arrogant, cocky etc.. who is at the top of the sport.

These two rivals are finally pitted against each other, in one corner you have a fighter that everyone hates and in the other corner a fighter whom everyone has come to love and admire.

Audiences like happy endings they are brought up with the stories of Snow white, Cinderella etc.. they want to exit the cinema happier than they entered. They want the underdog to win because they know how it feels to be an underdog.

The audience admires a character with pride strength and courage. Great Directors are aware of this knowing what the audience desires and gives it to them.

Boxing movies work because everyone loves a good underdog story!


Top Ten Boxing Movies Countdown

10.Rocky III (1982)

Released in 1982 Rocky III written, directed and starred in by Sylvester Stallone became the third movie of the Rocky Franchise. Boxer Rocky Balboa enjoys the wealth he has as world-champion. He only fights against straightforward opponents. Then he is challenged by the arrogant Clubber Lang. Rocky accepts the challenge to prove once more that there is only one world-champion. But Lang wins and becomes the new champion. Nobody believes in Rocky anymore, except one man: former world-champion Apollo Creed. Creed trains Rocky in an effort to regain his title. Co Stars: Talia Shire as "Adrian Balboa" Burt Young as "Paulie" and Carl Weathers as "Apollo Creed".

9. Diggstown (1992)

Rolling in at number nine is the film directed by Michael Ritchie, Diggstown starring James Wood (Gabriel Caine) Louis Gossett (Honey) and Bruce Dern (John Gillion). Gabriel Caine has only left prison when he sets up a bet with a wealthy businessman. This businessman owns most of a boxing-mad town called Diggstown. The bet is that "Gabe" can find a boxer that will knock out 10 Diggstown men, in a boxing ring, within 24 hours. "Honey" Roy Palmer is that man - although at 48, many say he is well past it. A sub plot is thrown in about Charles Macum Diggs - the heavyweight champion that gave the town its name - and who is now confined to a wheelchair.

8. City for Conquest (1940)

Anatole Litvak directs this film based on the novel called City of Conquest. Filled with fire and fury starring James Cagney as Danny Kenny (Young Samson) a truck driver who enters "the fight game" and Ann Sheridan as Peggy 'Peg' Nash his former girlfriend. Danny's success in the ring is helping him pay for his brother Eddie's music education. Danny becomes blinded by acid in a bout, and when efforts to get even fail his former manager finances a newsstand for the now blind and handicapped Danny. Eddie becomes a composer and dedicates a symphony at Carnegie Hall to Danny who listens to it on his radio from his newsstand. Peggy rushes from the concert to reunite with Danny at the newsstand.

7. Raging Bull (1980)

Lucky number seven on our countdown is Raging Bull the two-time Oscar winning movie directed by Martin Scorsese. When Jake LaMotta played by (Robert De Niro) steps into a boxing ring and obliterates his opponent, he's a prized-fighter. However when he treats his family and friends the same way, he's a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. Though LaMotta desires his family's love, something always seems to come between them. Perhaps it's his violent bouts of paranoia and jealousy. This kind of rage helped make him a champ, but in real life, he winds up in the ring alone. An emotionally self-destructive boxer's journey through life, as the violence and temper that leads him to the top in the ring, destroys his life outside it.

6. Rocky II (1979)

Rocky II the sequel to Rocky was one of the most eagerly anticipated and successful sequels of all time. Directed and starred in by Sylvester Stallone playing (Rocky Balboa) is a little-known boxer who was given a shot at the heavyweight champ, Apollo Creed. Having done much better than anyone expected, Creed demands a rematch, embarrassed by his inability to dominate the "amateur" Balboa. Unfortunately, he soon runs out of money, so he is forced to accept Creed's offer for a rematch. They called it "The Rematch Of The Century".

5. Rocky Balboa (2006)

Rocky Balboa the latest in the series of Rocky movies sees Sylvester Stallone return to the big screen as director and Rocky Balboa returning to the Boxing Ring. This hard-hitting, action-packed battle of the age's story sees Rocky Balboa finding life hard. His wife, Adrian (Shire) has unfortunately died and the relationship between him and his son (Ventimiglia) isn't perfect. But when a computer simulation pits a in-his-prime Rocky vs. the current undefeated champion Mason Dixon Rocky becomes focused on a return to the ring to let loose the 'beast' one final time. Co Stars: Mike Tyson as himself and Burt Young as "Paulie".

4. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Weighing in at number four with four Oscars to its name is the Clint Eastwood directed movie Million Dollar Baby. Starring heavyweight actors Hillary Swank (Maggie Fitzgerald), Morgan Freeman (Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris) and of course Clint Eastwood (Frankie Dunn). Maggie Fitzgerald, is a poor thirty-one year old waitress from the very lower classes and with a dysfunctional loser family, decides to make a difference through boxing. She convinces the experienced hardened boxing trainer Frankie Dunn to coach her and be her manager. Morgan Freeman plays the role of Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris an old partner of Frankie who sees great potential in Maggie. Frankie had always a conflict relationship with his own daughter and practically adopts Maggie along her career.

3. Hurricane, The (1999)

Down to the Top Three and Norman Jewison's "The Hurricane" takes its place on our countdown. The true story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter played by Denzel Washington, an African-American man who rose above his troubled youth to become a top contender for the middle-weight boxing title. However, his dreams turn to nightmare when he is accused of a triple murder, and sentenced to three natural-life terms in prison. He writes an Autobiography to prove his innocence becoming more and more discouraged. An African-American boy and his Canadian mentors read his book and are convinced of his innocence enough to work for his exoneration. Proving his innocence is not going to be easy. Co Starring: Vicellous Reon Shannon (Lesra Martin)

2. Cinderella Man (2005)

Making it to the number one contender spot on our countdown is the Ron Howard movie set in the 1930's Cinderella Man. In the North American Great Depression, the former successful boxer James Braddock played by Russell Crowe loses all his possessions and savings with the crash of the stock market. Mae Braddock his beloved wife played by Renée Zellweger and their three children survive to starvation and lack of heating and the daily difficulties supported by their love. In 1934, when Jim's coach and manager Joe Gould offers him a chance to return to boxing, he becomes the symbol of hope for hopeless people in a ruined nation.

1. Rocky (1976)

Ladies and Gentlemen the Number One Boxing Movie ever made through unanimous decision is Rocky! Champion of our countdown Oscar winning Rocky directed by John G. Avildsen starring Sylvester Stalone (Rocky), Talia Shire (Adriann), Burt Young (Paulie) Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed) and Burgess Meredith (Mickey) was were "The Italian Stallion" was born. Rocky Balboa, is a aspiring boxer in downtown Philadelphia. His one chance to make a better life for himself is through his boxing and Adrian, a girl who works in the local pet store. Through a publicity stunt, Rocky is set up to fight Apollo Creed, the current heavyweight champion who is already set to win. A magnificent underdog story!

Jason Forthofer is the owner of http://www.SportsInMovies.com. http://www.SportsInMovies.com is a guide to all movies related to sports. To view a full list of boxing movies view this page: http://www.sportsinmovies.com/boxing-movies.asp

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

What's Really the Score Josh Duhamel?

Subscribe in a Reader

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

by Cedric Canierro

After his break-up with former girlfriend Kristy Pierce, Josh is now into Black Eyed Peas female member Fergie. The met in the set of Las Vegas when the latter's group guested and eventually started dating. No problem about that since they are both single and granted that Josh is a hot men. As of this moment, they play good music together.

We've seen him in NBC crime series Las Vegas as a protégé of a prolific surveillance master. He also lead his co-stars Kate Bosworth and Topher Grace in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. But before this humongous success in film and television, he suceeded Ashton Kutcher in a modeling convention where he was spotted by an agent that paved way to his colorful movie career. Then portrayed Leo du Pres in All My Children where he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.


This lead to more big projects for him including thriller movie Turistas opposite Melissa George and Olivia Wilde. He is also in the box-office hit Transformers along with Megan Fox and Shia Labeouf. Aside from his regular stint in Las Vegas, he is a restaurateur as he owns 10 North Main located at his hometown. Feels like its a trend in young-blood actors to be an entrepreneur on the side.

http://hollywoodhotsexymen.blogspot.com/2007/10/whats-really-score-josh-duhamel.html

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Dean Martin: Cool as Ice

Subscribe in a Reader

by Cedric Canierro

Rat Pack's fifth member Dean Martin is the exact person you will think of the moment you hear the word cool. He is not only potent at the record sales but also in the box-office and television. As an actor, he is a Golden Globe recipient for his performance in The Dean Martin Show apart from other awards from various award-giving bodies. He is the culprit of such songs that used as movie or tv themes such as "Memories Are Made Of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano" and "Sway" To notice that he got the same voice timber as Frank Sinatra, it is because they are the best of friends.


He teamed up with comedian Jerry Lewis and formed a dynamic duo that was called Martin and Lewis which stand for about 11 years and made about 16 movies. He gained international fame when he did The Young Lions but his most remembered performance is in the film Ocean's Eleven. He entertain household viewers via The Dean Martin Show. The show was renamed from The Dean Martin Comedy Hour to The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. It created tv history as it features notable actors such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, George Burns and Milton Berle. He spent his final years with grief for his son's death in a plane crash. That made his health to crumble until he was defeated by lung cancer on Christmas Day of 1995.

http://classictvstarsondvdauction.blogspot.com/2008/02/dean-martin-cool-as-ice.html

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Katherine Heigl: Most Desirable Woman of 2008

Subscribe in a Reader

by ameliavega27

Katherine Heigl plays a girl who's always the bridesmaid and never the bride in her new movie, 27 dresses. But off the silver screen, the actress is not only a blushing newlywed, she also seems to have captured the hearts of American men.

On Thursday, the lifestyle Web site Askmen.com named Katherine Heigl the year's most desirable woman. The site — which boasts seven million readers a month — said it polls users annually for a list of 99 women who best embody the qualities of an ideal girlfriend or wife, as judged by intelligence, humor, charisma and ambition.

"This year's list really goes to show who our users relate with and find beautiful...

Read more... http://itsthebuzz.blogspot.com/2008/02/katherine-heigl-most-desirable-woman-of.html

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Get To Know The Overview Of Paramount Pictures

Subscribe in a Reader

by Mark Takenaka

Owned by Conglomerate Viacom, Paramount Pictures Corporation was founded in the year 1912. The founder Adolph Zukor of Famous Players Film Company decided to make feature films that would fulfill the demands of immigrants. By the mid of next year he made five successful films. In the same year Jesse L. Lasky founded Lasky Feature Play Company and hired Cecil B. DeMille for his first movie "The Squaw Man". Both the production companies sought help from Paramount Pictures to release their movies. Paramount Pictures was a new company at that time and was a unification of many small firms by W. W. Hokinson. The idea was cherished and the new company, Famous Players-Lasky, got a good start. Lasky and his brother-in-law, Goldfish became in charge of the production, along with DeMille. Hiram Abrams was responsible for the distribution where as Zukor made plans for the development of the company. The company soon touched great heights. In 1916, Zukor decided to talk about the merging of the three companies with Lasky and Hodkinson. Public can take guided tour into the Paramount Studios situated in Hollywood, California.

"Famous Players in Famous Plays" was the first slogan of the company made by Zukor.. He was the man behind successful actors like Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, Wallace Reid and Gloria Swanson. Paramount Pictures were the first to introduce the concept of block booking. This meant that if a particular firm wanted to buy the rights of a particular actor, they were also required to buy the other productions of Paramount Productions for that year. This concept proved to be a huge success and boosted the company's sale.

Paramount had huge success under the leadership of Zukor. He is the man responsible for building number of theaters which had nearly two thousand screens altogether. He also had big investments in radio and in 1926 he gained control over the Balaban & Katz chain. Barney Balaban became the president and Sam Katz handled the Paramount Publix theater chain. The company's name, Famous Players-Lasky was changed to Paramount-Publix Corporation, in 1927. Due to the achievement of Publix theater chain the name was changed to Paramount-Publix Corporation in 1930.

Due to the enormous expansion projects, the company was facing bankruptcy and by 1932 Zukon left all his old partners behind .A bank reorganization team, consisting of Otto Kahn and John Hertz took over the company but kept Zukon in the company. After dealing with bankruptcy, the company was named Paramount Pictures, Inc. and Barney Balaban became the chairman. Many actors, actresses and singers were roped in and on a yearly basis; the company was producing nearly seventy movies a year. They also tried their hand at cartoon and the two characters, Popeye the Sailor and Betty Boop became an instant hit.

The company's production went down to twenty movies a year and so the company decided to end it in 1940 as the government was having problems with block booking. While the company was making an effort to attract audience during the World War II, the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department reopened the case, U.S. vs. Paramount Pictures and the Supreme Court ordered the split of the company into two. Due to the loss of theater chains, the position of Paramount Pictures was very unstable and the company was sold to Gulf and Western Industries.



In 1970, Paramount collaborated with Universal Studios to form Cinema International Corporation.
They started producing for television. After the release of movies "Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever", the interest in movies were back again. Paramount Pictures began making albums when they purchased rights for Paramount Records. Cinema International Corporation became United International Pictures, in 1981, which was renamed as Paramount Communications in 1989. Paramount became a prominent name in Hollywood once again and gave tough competition to its rivals. Some survived by moving to another place like Warner Bros. and some closed down like for instance RKO.

Mark Takenaka has been in the field of Show Business from several years and likes to spread the same to others. Take a peek at the website and get to know about Show Business.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Newcomer Actor James Holzier Has a Large Following

by Nadia Beligano

In a less sentimental town, even good old-fashioned nepotism ( think the so-called dynasties of Fonda, Douglas and even Sheen) is no guarantee of a real leg-up these days. These days, Hollywood is more attuned to buzz, charisma and the rather nebulous concept of "freshness", so the sort of academic depth that served Streep, or her friend Marlon Brando, just doesn't count for as much.

Top US talent agent Jamie Hunt said: "What helps more than anything these days is the idea that even a newcomer brings a constituency. As far as the newcomers go, if there's a web following, even better." Look no further than up and comer James Holzier. James Holzier is gaining quite a large following and more importantly succeeding on his own terms. This young actor is becoming very popular and to universal admiration .

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Jet- set James is growing to an adoration of all ages and spreading to all demographics. What accounts for his appeal? It could be the fact he has overcome odds and obstacles through out his young life. From a miraculous birth to other tribulations, or it could be because of his relateable and humanistic qualities. Or it could be the fact that Holzier has not sold himself out for stardom, like so many actors in young Hollywood do. Opting to follow his instincts, he turned down roles that would have brought him instant stardom. "You can get alot of ridicule for that," says an observer. "But to me it just means you know you are. I respect that alot."

Holzier was one of the top searched celebrities in the world on the Male Celebrity site, MenCelebs.com (Men Celebs is the highest visited male celebrity directory in the world). This according to celebritywonder.com and allmovieportal.com. Often being #1. Beating out stars like David Beckham and Roger Federer. Celebrity Sites across the net are being dedicated to him.

With an appeal that braches out to all ages, his own "fresh" look, and a large following. You can say the future is bright for Holzier and his route to stardom.

In Entertainment

Foreign Language Study - Which Method is For You?

by Terry Shurts

Learning a second language can be a daunting task. If you are lucky enough to have bilingual parents or attended a school that taught second languages, that's great. But what if you are older now and interested in learning a second language? The good news is there are many helpful tools for you to access. Here is a quick review of the different methods for learning a second language.





Computer Programs



If you enjoy learning with multimedia programs on the computer, there are several different brands that you can use. Most combine visual flashcard-type lessons or video with the ability to practice speaking the language using a microphone. An excellent example is Rosetta Stone software. They use a total immersion method, which can be a little frustrating at first but if you stay with it, you will see your comprehension develop.





On-Line Programs



There are many programs for learning a second language on-line. This gives you the advantage of being able to study from any computer and gives you immediate access. Rosetta Stone has an on-line version. There are also many language reference and dictionary websites. One such that I highly recommend for help with learning the Thai language is thai-language.com.





Audio Programs

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

If you don’t have a computer or prefer to learn while doing other things like sitting in rush hour traffic, an audio program may be best for you. I recommend the Pimsleur programs. They combine an instructor with native speakers that let you hear a word or phrase and then give you a chance to repeat it. In fact, you may get sick of repeating it but you will learn it.





Live Classes



If you have the time, a language class at your local community college or adult learning center offers the advantage of having an instructor to answer questions if you get stuck and fellow classmates to practice with. If you have the money, a personal instructor could be better for you as you will have their complete attention and you will learn faster.





Complete Immersion



By far, the best way to learn a language is by living in a country that speaks the language. Of course you will still need to use one or more of the above methods but if you can do it while living around people who speak the language, you will learn much faster and speak better. No matter how good the program or class is, it is not exactly the same as actually living the language. You may not be able to actually move to another country but if you can spend 2 weeks to a month studying there, it will be well worth it.



Copyright 2008 Terry Shurts


Terry Shurts is a world traveler, author and foreign language lover. He recently wrote a report on how to start learning a 2nd language. This free report is called Your 2nd Language Guide and is available at http://My2ndLanguage.com

There Will Be Confusion & Discomfort

by Tammi Ree

Two of the most recent films I have seen of late - There Will Be Blood and Untraceable are two I would have rather missed altogether. In both films the leading actors, Daniel Day Lewis and Diane Lane, respectively, never miss a beat in their performances. However, there are issues with both of these films that will have the average moviegoer wishing they had opted for The Bucket List instead.



It is surprising the number of nominations, awards and placement of critical acclaim on top critics lists that Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood, have garnered. Daniel Day Lewis well deserves the Best Actor Oscar win for his portrayal of silver miner turned oilman Daniel Plainview during California's oil boom of the late 19th century and is not in question here. What is in question is - who is this character, what is the story here, and why did I spend six dollars to spend two hours and thirty-eight minutes watching this film?



The screenplay written by Thomas and inspired by the novel Oil written by Upton Sinclair obviously does not translate well to film. The characters as well as the story line come and go as if watching snippets from several different films. What remains a constant throughout is Lewis's intensity and focus to the character. A mighty task given the viewer never comes to understand or identify with Daniel Plainview. He is not ruthless, greedy, nor angry enough to justify a sudden murderous streak or add any sense or substance to the already haphazard plot.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility for your website or blog at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

How this film came to be nominated for an academy award is a mystery to me.



Gregory Hoblit's Untraceable, starring Diane Lane and Colin Hanks is an effective thriller. The writing and editing are superior - all filmmaking elements combined make this an above average film. Diane Lane's performance as an FBI cyber cop tracking down a sadistic serial killer is convincing - Lane never fails to deliver. Hanks steps up to the plate here by sidestepping his usual antics in sophomoric comedies in his role as the serial killer who uses the internet to broadcast his murders. There is a twist to the murders. The number of viewers within his audience determines the timeliness of the death for the victims.



Untraceable is a social commentary on mass voyeurism, immunity to the suffering of others, sadism, and the ready availability of it all via the internet. Although interesting and thought provoking the film is undeniably disturbing and graphic with sadistic methods of murder.



Within the genre of horror, mindless gore on film has filled a need among a demographic that is expanding at an alarming rate and blurring the distinction between horror and thrillers. Untraceable by definition is not a horror film; however, horror abounds and is unsettling on many levels.



Despite being a huge fan of Diane Lane, I could have done without this one.


REVOLVERFM.COM

Listener Supported Internet Radio

Beyonce Giselle Knowles

by Shannon Carter

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, widely known as Beyoncé, was born in Houston Texas on the 4th of September 1981, elder of the two daughter born to Matthew and Tina Knowles. She had her education at High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Houston, Texas.



Beyoncé began her early career at the age of 7 when she auditioned for a role in a child singing group made up of her, Latavia Roberson, Beyoncé's cousin, Kelly Rowland and Letoya Luckett. The group started off small, doing local events but got their break when they performed on a star search. Discovered by Whitney Houston, their young energy and sound was a revelation for Hip Hop/ R&B music during the 90's. Soon after that Destiny's Child got it's formal name, they started doing bigger gigs and were the opening act for other groups like SWV, Dru Hill and Immature. They released their self titled album in 1998 and Beyoncé was the cornerstone in the group. Working out most of the lyrics and sound for the new group. She was the dominant lead singer in the group and no one could dispute.

Don't forget to download Indocquent's free social bookmark utility at http://www.indocquent.com/social_bookmark/social_bookmark_landingpage.html.

Beyoncé started doing her solo career during the autumn of 2002 and eventually won awards as Best Female R&B Artist in 3 consecutive years. In the summer of the same year(2002), Knowles also co-starred in the film Austin Powers in Goldmember, playing Foxxy Cleopatra with Mike Myers and Michael Caine. Knowles also recorded the song "Work It Out" for the film's soundtrack. Knowles' latest film work is Dreamgirls, the film adaptation of the 1981 hit Broadway musical of a 1960's singing group loosely based on Motown all-female groups The Supremes, as the Diana Ross-based character Deena Jones. Knowles also co-starred in the film The Pink Panther, playing the character of Xania, an international pop star, with Steve Martin, who plays Inspector Clouseau. The film was released on February 10, 2006, and was number one at the box office on its opening weekend. In 2003, Knowles starred opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the film The Fighting Temptations, and recorded a song for it called "Fighting Temptation", alongside female rappers Missy Elliott, MC Lyte, and Free. Unlike Knowles' own singles, the song did not become a hit, although the film was a moderate success at the box office.


This article was contributed by Shannon Carter of Hollywood Celebrity Archives it consist of the latest news about your favorite celebrity including the movies they were involved.