Sunday Funnies

Nickelback - This Means War

Sin tiempo casi de disfrutar de "Lullaby", Nickelback ha sacado ya el siguiente vídeo de la canción "This Means War".
Éste es muy diferente al de "Lullaby", ya que sólo salen ellos tocando. Por esa razón no hay demasiado que comentar acerca de él, la canción es buena y el vídeo sencillo.
Aquí os queda "This Means War":

Pictures of Asin Thottumkal

Asin Thottumkal

Born    
(1985-10-26) 26 October 1985 (age 26)[1]
Cochin, Kerala, India
Nationality
Indian

Occupation
Actress, Model

Years active
2001 – present

Height
5 ft 4 in (163 cm)

Parents
Joseph Thottumkal
Dr. Seline Thottumkal

Website
www.asinonline.com

Elegy For Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear

Synopsis From Back Cove:r:

Early April, 1933.  To the costermongers of Covent Garden - peddlers selling fruits and vegetables on the streets of London - Eddie Pettit was kindness itself.  A little "slow," he was a gentle soul, more boy than man, with a gift for calming the most challenging horse.  His recent death in a violent accident has shocked his friends and neighbors.  They believe Eddie was the victim of foul play, but the police won't investigate.  Their only hope of finding the truth is Maisie Dobbs.

Maisie has known these men from childhood, when her father, Frankie, worked alongside them.  Determined to do right by Eddie, she plunges into the investigation.  They search for answers begins amid the working-class streets of Lambeth, where Eddie lived.  But before long, Maisie is following threads of intrigue to a powerful press baron, a "has-been" politician lingering in the hinterlands of power named Winston Churchill, and to the doorstep of a writer who is also the husband of her dearest friend, Priscilla.

In a series that is 9 books long so far, it's to be expected that at least one of them will in some way not be what you where wanting it to be.  Now granted this is only the 5th one that I've read so far, but I think it's safe to say that I finally reached that point with Elegy for Eddie.

I wish I could sit here and give you a point by point, detailed reason on why I was not able to connect with this one as much as the previous books, but I'm not sure I can.  On one hand, I found the mystery to be compelling.  I wanted to know why Eddie had to die and see those behind the killing punished for their crimes.  Sadly, both the reason for his death and the identity of his killer make both those things a bit harder to accomplish.  I understand why the author went this route with the book, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it.  The mystery itself was used more as a vehicle to tell a story that is more about the lead up to World War II than anything else.  Most of the action and characters revolve around the idea that Adolf Hitler is not the good guy some want him to believe.  They are concerned about a second great war that hasn't even been announced yet.  I found all of this fascinating, but wish the mystery wouldn't have had to be a third victim to the plot.

I think the other issue I had was in the character of Maisie herself, and this is where skipping some of the middle books may be kicking me in the ass (though I read the two books that precede this one.)  I found her to be a little too angst filled this time around.  She just can't seem to make up her mind or be happy with anything that is going on with her personally.  She is unsure of her romantic relationship, doesn't know what to do about her father, and is having a hard time dealing with the fact that she now has a lot of money.  Too much of the story was taken up with how Maisie seemed to be feeling sorry for herself, stuck in a malaise, and just a tad bit too whiny.  Now I know that a lot of the issues have to do with her experience in the Great War, the death of her mentor and improved fortune that resulted from that, and the fear that her country is going to be pulled into another war.  This book is all about transitions in that regard.  I just wish it wouldn't have been so painful to read.

Now I'm not saying this is a bad book or even an okay book, because it's better than that.  The writing is as great as it has been throughout the series, the story lines are intriguing  and never bore, and the supporting characters keep the pace moving at a brisk pace.  I guess what I'm saying is that in every series there are going to be books that don't make me coo with pleasure the entire time I'm reading them.  That's not a bad or good thing, it's just the way things are.

I would like to thank Trish of TLC Book Tours for the wonderful opportunity to read and review these books.  Please visit the tour page to read reviews of this book and the rest of the books in the series since the entire month of March is being devoted to them.

Nickelback - Lullaby

Recientemente, la banda de rock canadiense Nickelback ha publicado su último vídeo correspondiente a su trabajo Here And Now.
La canción escogida fue "Lullaby". Me alegro de que hayan decidido hacer un videoclip de esta canción, mi favorita de ese último disco.
El vídeo podemos decir que es un clásico dentro de la historia de la banda, contándonos una historia triste de superación. En este caso, una chica va a dar a luz acompañada de su pareja. Cuando tiene al bebé, ella se muere. El chico, sumido en una profunda tristeza, recoge al bebé y un folleto sobre adopciones pensando en dar su hijo recién nacido a otra familia que lo cuide ya que él no se ve con fuerzas. Al llegar a casa se ve el sufrimiento que le provoca tener que soportar la muerte de su novia y a la vez cuidar del bebé que requiere atención a todas horas. Finalmente y tras ver un vídeo en el que su novia estaba toda ilusionada con la llegada del niño, él rompe el folleto y coge al bebé en brazos con la ilusión de sacarlo adelante él sólo.
Aquí os queda el vídeo de "Lullaby" que espero os guste tanto como a mi:

Favorite Fictional Character --- Pepe Le Pew

I'm must admit to feeling a little sad at this point in time.  The month is about over as in my trip down memory lane with some of my favorite Looney Toons characters.  I almost broke down and featured Bugs Bunny this week, but there are so many characters in the pantheon that I stuck to my guns and went with another character that doesn't get as much respect as Bugs, Daffy, and Porky.  I considered Speedy Gonzales, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Marvin the Martian, Sylvester &Tweety, and even The Tasmanian Devil (a character that always seemed to get on my nerves.)  Instead of those deserving characters, some more than others, I decided to go with one of my favorite skunks.  I'm in love with those adorable little faces, and I do have more than one favorite skunk character.  So with no further ado let me present Pepe Le Pew, the skunk with nothing but love on the brain.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of the French skunk named Pepe Le Pew, is his quest to find love in all the wrong places.  He has fallen in "love" with with a female black cat, a male cat, a female dog, a wild cat, and even Sylvester.  Now in poor Pepe's defense, they all disguised themselves as a skunk in order to trick somebody else.  It should also be pointed out that in most of those cases, once the truth comes out, Pepe doesn't care.  He's still in "love" and isn't going to take no for an answer.  He's an equal opportunity lover, though a bit on the needy side.

Now most of his affections are for Penelope Pussycat, the poor black cat who always manages to have a white stripe painted down her back.  I could never figure out how the poor creature could always find mishaps around white paint.  If I were her, I would have avoided the color white at all costs.  For the most part Penelope wanted nothing to do with Pepe.  She would run and run while he chased after her like a miniature stalker.  It wasn't until later that Penelope and Pepe showed their true colors.

After a bit of time, once Penelope started to return his feelings and became a bit more aggressive, Pepe started to flounder a bit.  He may want love, but he wants to be on the doing the pursuing.  He doesn't like being chased nor does he actually want the love given back.  Once Penelope starts to return the feelings, Pepe wants nothing to do with it.  It's an interesting dynamic to see the roles reversed.

Either way, pursuer or pursued, Pepe is one of those characters that will never go away.  He is a part of pop culture and he deserves to have the spotlight on him no matter what he does.

Conto "Crónicas Obscuras - O preço"

  Entre outros conteúdos, na Nanozine 5, encontrarão a primeira parte do conto "Crónicas Obscuras - O preço".
  Dêem uma espreitadela e depois digam o que acharam. ;)

Night Clubs At The Revel

Revel and Angel Management Group are introducing day-into-night entertainment this summer with HQ Nightclub and HQ Beach Club, two distinctive experiences at the beachfront destination in Atlantic City.  HQ Nightclub and HQ Beach Club are poised to set the standard for East Coast nightlife, presenting elevated experiences designed to thrill an influential crowd.

The focal point of Revel’s entertainment venues, the 40,000-square-foot HQ Nightclub will consist of four levels, each incorporating an entirely different experience that will stun even the most discerning clubgoers and trendsetters.  Starting with a chic candlelit library bar complete with gaming, billiards and custom-made cocktails on the first floor, the energy will climb throughout the levels of the club, culminating in a sleek rooftop outfitted in chic yacht-inspired décor and offering impeccable panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The club’s main room will also house a state-of-the-art performance area created to host the most-in demand entertainment acts.

With inspiration gathered from the beautiful island of Mykonos to the South of France, HQ Beach Club will represent an unprecedented daylife and nightlife atmosphere spanning 45,000 square feet of beachfront space. Situated directly on the boardwalk with the ocean as its backdrop, HQ Beach Club will be the ultimate day into night escape, delivering the signature pool party AMG has pioneered to the Northeast.

As the first venture of this scale on the East Coast, HQ Nightclub and Beach Club will offer provocative experiences that rival international nightlife and daylife destinations, creating an entirely new level of experiential entertainment.

Revel opens its doors April 2 with an eight-week preview culminating in the resort premiere on Memorial Day weekend. Spanning 6.3 million square feet and standing 47 stories tall in Atlantic City, Revel is bringing a true resort option to the Northeast. The beachfront destination is smoke-free and features 1,800 rooms with an ocean view, two performance spaces, more than a dozen restaurants, two nightclubs, a dayclub, spa, beach club, retail shops and a casino.  Revel is located on the Boardwalk at Connecticut Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey. To start your resort experience, visit revelresorts.com.

To receive the latest updates on Revel Nightlife, find us on Facebook and Twitter.  

Jet Blue and the Wild Blue Yonder

By now everyone has heard about the Jet Blue pilot that had a very very bad day Tuesday.  Apparently he suffered some sort of breakdown and at 35,000 feet implied the plane would explode, while referencing Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Once the pilot was removed from the plan all attention swung to Jet Blue.  This morning CEO of the airline David Barger appeared on the Today show (NBC).  While the questions centered around the crew, AND the passengers that subdued the agitated pilot, Mr. Barger showed his class and skill.

He fielded every question and comment from Matt Lauer during the course of the interview revealed his actually had known the pilot for a number of years.  Its rare when a spokesperson can handle the glare of a very bad situation and come out the other side in better shape than when he started.  Mr. Barget did. His shareholders owe him a big old southern "thank you,"

Silent Victims by Lynda La Plante

Synopsis From Back Cover: 

Chief Detective Inspector Jane Tennison has moved up the ranks, fighting every step of the way to break through the station house's glass ceiling.  Now, on her first day as the head of the Vice Squad, a case comes in that threatens to destroy everything she has worked for.

As Vera Reynolds, drag queen and night club star, swayed onstage singing "Falling in Love Again," a sixteen-year-old rent boy lay in the older man's apartment, engulfed in flames.  When Tennison's investigation reveals an influential public figure as her prime suspect, a man with connections to politicians, judges, and Scotland Yard, she's given a very clear message about the direction some very important people would like her investigation to take.  Suddenly, in a case defined by murky details, one fact becomes indisputably clear - that for Tennison, going after the truth will mean risking her happiness, her career, and even her life.

Every good journey must end.  I'm still not sure why, but that's what I've been told my entire life.  So needless to say, my time with Jane Tennison has sadly come to an end.  I'm still not sure why only three books were written or why the American version of the show had to come to a swift end.  Tennison is one of those characters that deserves to live a long and healthy life, one where she always comes up on top despite those rooting for her failure.

With Silent Victims, Lynda La Plante moves Jane from homicide to head the Vice Squad.  She knows she is going into the job with something to prove and she is bound and determined to do so.  When her investigation into the death of the 16 year old rent boy leads into murky waters, Jane is warned to keep a narrow focus.  It's only as she digs deeper into the lives of those who surrounded the young man does Jane begin to realize that their is something much bigger going on.  Why was an investigation into public figures and male prostitutes buried before she got to the department?  Why is a man who runs a teen shelter supposed to be so hands off?  Who is keeping secrets they would rather have stay buried?  It's by asking those questions that Jane will either destroy her career or finally prove that she deserves to be where she is at, maybe even something a little higher.

What I adored about Jane is this final installment is that she finally decides to play the game by the rules the "boys" established years before.  She gets down on there level and comes out on top.  She shows that she is not someone to be trifled with and isn't above playing dirty to get what she wants.  I love her. I want to go out and get drunk with her.  She is truly a character that will stay in my head for a very long time.

I will admit to having a few trepidations about the storyline itself though.  I'm always a little leery when authors start diving into the gay community, presumably one that they don't know much about.  Now granted, this is a side of the community I'm not all that familiar with either.  I know a few drag queens, but that's about the extent of it.  I will say the author played up to a few stereotypes, but I don't think it was done in any way that didn't push the plot along.  She, and I'm not sure if this was meant to dampen the stereotypes down a bit, but he was a nice addition to the book.  He didn't get a lot of page time, but it did allow me to not see any bigotry behind the other characters.

Now I know this will be my last new foray into the field with Jane, but I'm looking forward to the day when I'm ready to pick up all three books and give her a chance to amaze me once again.

I would like to thank Trish of TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.  Please visit the tour page to read other review on this and the previous two books.

Hunger Games - Read the Book, See the Movie

Read the book, people!!! That's all I should say. I gave a review last year. Excellent YA trilogy. So what? Writing and storytelling like this makes kids excited about reading. In turn, parents tune in and soon there's a common ground. There's no downside.

Hunger Games, the movie - big thumbs up. Here's my review that appears in The Little Paper of San Saba (a town without a cinema)

photo courtesy of EW.

Hunger Games, the movie, is awesome. If you weren't part of the $155 million dollar box office opening, then you aren't doing your part for Hollywood. It's a great movie - show 'em some love. Hunger Games, the book, is better so if you plan to wait for DVD then at least read the trilogy. The book just gives that notch more description, that extra sense of desperation, and a deeper insight into the characters. The movie does an excellent job even if you have no clue, but why not enhance your experience?

So, it's the future and America is now segregated into districts. There once was thirteen districts, but number thirteen had an uprising and was obliterated according to the government. Now, to remind folks not to uprise, the Capitol hosts the Hunger Games. Each district must have a reaping - i.e. pick a male and female between age 12 and 18 to attend a fight to the death. Only one winner. As the saying goes - Happy Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen (the superb Jennifer Lawrence) chooses to volunteer in place of her twelve year old sister, Prim. Katniss can hunt with a bow and knife, she's athletic, and determined from District 12. The boy, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), is the baker's son - wiry and stronger than he looks; he's had a thing for Katniss for years. However, she's close to Gale (Liam Hemsworth) who's stuck back home (the book gives us more).

The movie builds tension through the reaping. Then we see the trip to the Capitol for the duo. They meet their drunk mentor, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). He's supposed to guide them and find sponsors. His cynical attitude works, and he slowly warms to Katniss. He wants District 12 to win. Cinna (Lenny Kravitch) is Katniss's designer confidante. He makes her look great. The whole thing is part pageant, show, and media blitz. It shows how government can spin things - even death.

President Snow (Donald Sutherland) with his silky voice manipulates and sleazes throughout. He's so good, and is Katniss' nemsis. He's not pleased at her talents.

The actual games are brutal. The film does a good job of depicting the challenges, and also the manipulation from the Capitol headquarters. Let's just say it's not all fair. I'm not going to spoil and tell any more. Bring a tissue for a character's final outcome. Root for Katniss - she's a hardcore heroine who doesn't know her powers. After 2-1/2 hours you are going to want more. You'll be pleased with Hunger Games, but there's way more to the story and adventure. It's only just begun.

So - c'mon. Buy your ticket, some popcorn, and be drawn into the world of Panem. Happy Hunger Games, indeed.

Vollüspa – Antologia de Contos de Literatura Fantástica (vinheta)

Uma pequena vinheta que criei para Vollüspa. Apreciem e digam o que acham. ;)

  Clóvis estava sentado no centro do círculo protector, quando a lâmpada do candeeiro começou a piscar e a velas em seu redor a abanar, embora não houvesse brisa.

  3h30. O fim aproximava-se.

  As baratas e ratos saltaram das fendas na parede para o soalho, fugindo em pânico perante o poder profano que convergia sobre a sala.

  3h31. O relógio no pulso de Clóvis parou e a lâmpada extinguiu-se, deixando apenas as velas para iluminar a leitura. A temperatura caiu a pique, as tábuas do soalho estalaram e uma gota de sangue pingou entre as letras impressas, escorrendo do nariz do jovem, que continuou a ler, mesmo quando uma figura sombria, vestido no fato ensanguentado de Clyde Barrow, se materializou na sala, erguendo-se das sombras. 

  - Clóvis Barnabé – clamou a criatura, apoiando-se na bengala esculpida com a madeira do Wasa, inundando o espaço com a sua voz cavernosa e o cheiro azedo a sangue, putrefacção e cinzas – os teus 33 anos entre os vivos chegaram ao fim, é hora de honrares o pacto de teu pai e vires comigo. Resistir é inútil, a tua alma pertence-me e arrastá-la-ei pelos Portões Negro do…

  - Yah, dá-me só dez minutos, pode ser? Estou mesmo no último conto.

  “Cachopos! Já ninguém respeita as Forças do Inominável…” queixou-se a entidade sombria, sacando do relógio do Capitão Edward Smith e dando um pontapé na barreira protectora, que na sua opinião era uma anedota, capaz de ser pulverizada pelo arroto de um diabrete de 3ª categoria.

  - Ó que se lixe, tenho tempo – autorizou, guardando o relógio e encolhendo os ombros perante a insignificância de dez minutos face à eternidade. – Que lês?

  - Vollüspa – Antologia de Contos de Literatura Fantástica.

  - Bom?

  - Excelente.

  - Posso ler, quando acabares? Não quero abusar…

  - Na boa.

  - Fixe.

Podem comprar a Vollüspa aqui.