“It must be my turn.” George looked up at the Moon, closed
his eyes, and began speaking, “The Moon is tidally locked to the Earth in its
orbit. It circles the Earth and shows the same face to us with little
variation. The side we don’t see, the so-called dark side, was first revealed
to us in 1959 when the Soviet Union’s Luna 3 passed around the Moon and took
photos. Unfortunately, the photos showed something that didn’t make any sense
to the scientists who saw them. They assumed that they had seen some defect in
the film and only released the images that made sense with their understanding
of what was up there. The rest they discarded.
Lee took a second to gather his thoughts. He looked into the
cabin and noticed the unlit lantern. Moonlight flowed through the small window
and onto the table where the lantern was. The stove was glowing orange but with
much less intensity than before. Then he began:
Under Pressure with David Bowie: Beat was used by Rapper
Vanilla Ice for his song “Ice, Ice, Baby”
Flash Gordon (1980) soundtrack
Highlander movie and TV Series
Queen on the free concert – They were only going to get 30
pounds each anyway.
Freddie Mercury on John Lennon: (His response is a bit
surprised, and he hesitates to find the right words. It’s okay to rephrase if
you get off on the wrong track.) “It’s not a matter of less talent or more
talent. It’s just that certain people are capable of doing certain things
better than somebody else… John Lennon was just unique and a one-off… I admire
John Lennon very much.” Mercury wants to be true to himself.
The Rolling Stones, debut album (1964), name from Muddy Waters song:
Jumping Jack Flash: Whoopie Goldberg film, Otherworld TV
series.
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction: Justine Bateman movie.
Paint It Black
It’s only Rock N Roll (but I like It) with David Bowie:
Start Me Up:
Sympathy for the Devil: Jagger based his portrait of Satan
as “a may-yun of way-elth and tay-ste” in part on Mikhail Bulgakov’s
satirical novel The Master and Margarita. But he made the role his own.
The Beatles, debut album 1963, (The Oneders) They are
the standard; they were the first to make it big from England to the U.S.:
Back in the USSR:
Across the Universe (also a movie) and in Pleasantville:
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Paul Is Dead?):
Let’s set up the rules. We had four last year. Do we need to
change them, add to them, subtract from them, or do they work?
What did you do this summer? Let’s talk about our great
summer activities or our not so great ones.
Let’s talk songs: Which would you like to sing? I’m suggesting:
Ducktales:
Gummi Bears:
Chip N Dale’s Rescue Rangers:
Scooby-Do:
Kids Incorporated:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:
Spider-Man:
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Sweet Caroline
Possible topics and activities: What do you want to talk about this year? Suggest topics and let’s see what you want to know about the U.S., its culture and language. (Or we can just learn things like “Why does this dog smell? Because it’s wet and dirty” if that’s helpful to you.)
Vote and weighting: We have a limited amount of time hanging
out together this year, so let’s vote on the topics and cover the most
important ones first.
Word Game: Everyone gets letters. The first decision is if
the person can make a word of three-letters or more. If so, take the word and
keep the letters. Then place a tile in the playing area. If not, place a tile
from your hand into the playing area. Each letter is worth a certain number of
points. The person with the highest number of points when all the letters are used,
wins.
When they arrived at the cabin, they set their bags on the
porch and opened the door. Inside, the last people who were there had left some
firewood. Otherwise, everything was clean. The men claimed their bunks, lit a
fire in the stove, and started preparing dinner. After dinner, there was card
game, jokes, and beverages. It had been a long day for everyone, and the short
trip to the cabin was enough to tire them out. They decided to call it a night.
Upon release of his fourth installation in the Michael Vey series, Author Richard Paul Evans wrote a letter in response to some fans asking why he would write young adult fiction when they want to read something else. In spite of these protests, the number of comic con attendees that call themselves Veyniacs attests to the popularity of Vey and his adventures.
Evans says that Vey bucks the trend of dystopia and pride
that much of young adult fiction subscribes to. Vey himself experiences
Tourette’s syndrome, but doesn’t allow his disability to define him. He offers
a character that others who experience disabilities can relate to.
This positivity combined with the moral aesthetic of Vey
conveys hope that the world needs right now. Rather than focusing on the
possible outcomes that lead to dystopia, Evans has created a place where people
value loyalty and friendship while trying to make the world better.
While the Vey series doesn’t lack for strong female
characters, Evans says that he has come under fire for making a male hero at a
time when Hollywood has focused on female heroes of The Hunger Games, Divergent
and Twilight. Yet, male role models,
even fictional ones, are important to help keep boys reading and involved in
life.
Evans makes an appeal in his letter to all of his fans:
“So even if you don’t think Michael Vey is for you, the
cause may be. I invite you to join the cause, because this is one where we can
make a difference shaping culture. Introduce Michael Vey to your children, your
grandchildren, to a neighbor. Purchase a copy or two and donate it to your
school or church. Many schools have library waiting lists for Michael Vey
numbering in the hundreds. (Trust me, if you’re 300 on the waiting list, you’re
not going to get to read it.)”
By buying the books that deliver a message that is uplifting
and important to others, readers can make a difference not only in the lives of
others but in culture itself. The success of a certain book will prompt the
creation of other stories that are along the same lines. For anyone who wants
not only more from a certain author but also more of the same type of story,
voting with dollars and social media support is a good way to ensure that
publishers and movie makers listen to the demand.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. The
links have been updated September 2019.
If you haven’t met Pear Penguin, yet, be ready for a dose of cuteness. Pear Penguin loves fall weather, colored leaves, and fresh fruit – (and fish!) Pear made me type that last part. Pear’s puffy belly always looks full, but it’s really Pear’s heart that is full of love for you.
Pear is looking for a forever family. As one of the few
plush black and white penguins available for adoption, Pear is sure to add joy
and friendship to your life or the life of someone you care about. Once the adoption
fees are taken care of, Pear can be shipped worldwide.
Pear has been listening to Patch and taking Patch’s advice
to heart. At about 6 and ¾ inches, Pear is the perfect size to take with you
wherever you go.
Pear may be our newest penguin, but we have plenty of other penguins waiting for adoption. For every penguin adopted, $1 goes to the Global Penguin Society. Order your penguin today and have it in time for the holidays. (Only good through October 15 and while supplies last.)
Penguinate! Positive Creativity 