The Glittery Blue With Silver Sparkles Book

Time to play "Where's Gareth?"

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:13:24 GMT

According to BG's facebook page

"Unfortunately we have had to pull out of the next round of Live and Unsigned, due to be held in London on 15 May.

Gareth has got to go to America for a couple of weeks and the trip unfortunately falls over the time of the gig.

Thank you all again for the support you showed us in Cardiff and for making sure that we got as far as the second round. We are very grateful and feel lucky to have such supportive fans."

That's a tough break for the band. But as for Gareth being in America, the my guesses are

- Press for Red Faction: Origins, which would seem to indicate either that his character is a major one, or just that he is likely to draw more people than the actors who do play the major characters.

- Casimir Effect, either a film festival or a screening somewhere in the US.

- Conventions? Don't think any are coming up, but since I can't go, I admit, I don't keep very close track of such things.

- Work (Work in TW? I don't even know if I want that any more? Not that I don't miss Ianto, but the things I've heard about Miracle Day, don't sound very promising, I'm afraid.)

- Jinny Baza just misses his Gaz ;)

Glory Box and Fingered

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:41:56 GMT

Blue Gillespie made it to the next round!

Blue Gillespie - Live and Unsigned

Blue Gillespie News
The Regional Finals took place in Cardiff last month and we've made it through to the next round. Thank you to everyone who came on the day and everyone who voted from afar; you helped us make it through. The offical video of our appearance is available to view on the MUZU.TV website. The act with the most views can win an exclusive, all expenses paid trip to Dublin to make a music video in the MUZU.TV studio. The resulting music video, plus a documentary of the trip, will be a main feature on the MUZU.TV home page. So, please take a look and rewatch as many times as you can!

The next round is the Area Finals and they take place at the Beck Theatre, Hayes on Sunday 15 May. We'll be putting tickets for the Area Final on sale in the next few days. We're also looking into the possibility of holding a gig in the area the evening before; more information will be available soon.

Blue Gillespie Competition

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:06:45 GMT

As you may know, Blue Gillespie is competing in Live and Unsigned and has made it to round two.

Their 30 second audition vid is here and they ask for views and comments. All audition vids are about 30 seconds long, as you can see on the Live and Unsigned YouTube channel. So, my humble suggestion is to say something positive about the vid itself, rather than pointing out that the band can be better appreciated in more than 30 seconds. Though I agree with the sentiment, it is really a moot point as I am sure that all of the bands auditioning can be better appreciated in more than 30 seconds. The song they're performing is Sugarglass, the bit near the end.

To save anything left behind
To save something of my mind
Burn the shadow from my sleep
Pray the earth my soul to keep
Then find all that . . .

Also, there are some BG vids recorded by documentarydave in which Gareth gives sort of a tiny interview before each song.

Before Mannish Boy, he speaks about Blue Gillespie's music.

At the beginning of Dead Letter Blues he talks about Newport, and how art tends to evolve from the negatives in urban culture.

He talks about how long he's known the other band members and how they got together at the beginning of the Roadhouse Blues vid.

And then Glory Box is simply the vid itself.

All of the songs were recorded at TJ's in Newport, during the Longest Day gig, in June 2008.

WTF is Red Faction?

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:48:52 GMT

Okay the press releases have come out and Gareth is currently in Bulgaria Filming a SyFy movie called "RED FACTION:ORIGINS".

Crave Online

Jan 20, 2011
Ten years after the first "Red Faction" video game, the series is about to make the leap to television.

SyFy and THQ have announced that "Red Faction: Origins" will begin production in Bulgaria this week with a cast led by Brian J. Smith ("Stargate Universe") and genre legend Robert Patrick ("Terminator 2," "The X-Files").

"Red Faction: Origins" takes place twenty five years after the third game, "Red Faction Guerrilla" saw the Red Faction overthrow the Earth Defense Force and win freedom for the Martian Colonies. Patrick will portray the hero of "Red Faction Guerrilla," Alec Mason who has become a broken man since the murder of his wife and the abduction of his daughter Lyra (Tamzin Merchant).

During the story, Alec's son, Jake (Smith) becomes an officer in the Red Faction Militia and learns that his sister survived her captivity and that she has become a sworn enemy of the Martian Colonies. Jake's mission is to save his planet and his family, if he can.

Several other genre veterans have also signed on to appear in the film, including Kate Vernon ("Battlestar Galactica"), Gareth David-Lloyd ("Torchwood") and Devon Graye ("Dexter") as well as Tamzin Merchant ("The Tudors") and Danielle Nicolet ("The Starter Wife").

Michael Nankin ("Battlestar Galactica") is attached to direct the film from a script by Andrew Kreisberg ("Warehouse 13").

According to SyFy, "Red Faction: Origins" is expected to debut on the channel in May to coincide with the release of "Red Faction: Armageddon" on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

If "Red Faction: Origins" attracts a large audience, it may lead to further "Red Faction" TV movies or possibly even a TV series.

So, this is the cast and character list as we know it so far.
Robert Patrick - Alec Mason
Brian J. Smith - Jake Mason
Tamzin Merchant - Lyra Mason
Kate Vernon - ?
Gareth David-Lloyd - ?
Devon Graye - ?
Danielle Nicolet - ?

Director - Michael Nankin
Story Idea - Paul De Meo
Screenplay - Andrew Kreisberg

For you Sentinel Fans, Danny Bilson is THQ's executive vice president of core games, and somewhat of the 'public face' of the company. And Paul De Meo is THQ's Director of Fiction Development.

I don't play video games, (though if I had the time and money I wouldn't mind spending a few hours shooting at bad guys, sounds very therapeutic) and the summary given in the press releases didn't give me much information. Now since we don't know yet what part Gareth plays, this still doesn't tell us much about his part, but these are the plots of the games.

From Wikipedia

Red Faction - Plot
Red Faction takes place on Mars in the year 2075. The protagonist, Parker, is a miner who came to Mars seeking a better life away from Earth. Instead, he finds that the Ultor Corporation abuses the workers and forces them to endure hazardous living conditions. A plague of an unknown origin sweeps through the colony, but Ultor does nothing to halt its propagation or to provide for the sick.

The story begins with Parker witnessing another miner being brutally killed by an Ultor guard. Parker decides to fight back by aiding the mysterious rebellion called “Red Faction”. As the story progresses, Parker, aided by a rebellious Ultor technician named Hendrix, and the leader of the rebellion, Eos, wreaks havoc on Ultor’s installations and learns more about the mysterious Plague.

Parker is eventually led to the lair of Dr. Capek, a deranged scientist who has developed mutants, nano-technology (developed more fully in Red Faction II), and the Plague itself. Parker chases Capek through his underground complex and Parker eventually traps Capek in "Capeks laboratory." Parker destroys Capek's "nanoshield" and in Capek's final moments, Eos bursts in telling Parker not to kill Capek. Capek reveals to Eos that there is a cure to the plague, and subsequently dies. Ultor calls in a band of mercenaries led by Col. Masako to stop Parker, Eos and the rest of Red Faction. After numerous events, including Parker's abduction of a high-level Ultor worker, Hendrix is killed by the mercenaries for being a traitor and helping the Red Faction.

For the finale, Parker fights his way through the mercenaries to confront Masako. After a long battle, Parker kills her and finds Eos tied down next to a bomb about to detonate. Parker quickly defuses the bomb and frees Eos. A cutscene shows the Earth Defense Force come to the rescue to stop Ultor’s oppression and help cure the Plague. Eos declares Parker a hero as the game ends.

Red Faction II - Plot
Red Faction II takes place on Earth in the year 2083. The protagonist, Alias, is a genetically enhanced super soldier formerly employed by the Ultor Corporation. Nanotechnology developed by Dr. Capek (see Red Faction) has fallen into the hands of the EDF (who is now associated with Ultor) and many other terrorist groups. A dictatorship, “The Commonwealth,” has employed Alias to retrieve nanotechnology and other data.

Eventually the research is claimed for Victor Sopot, leader of the Commonwealth as well as the first antagonist of the game. As Sopot’s soldiers become more enhanced due to the recovered technology, the more he fears them. Sopot sends lessened troops to stop all remaining nanotech soldiers (including Alias). Alias allies with other soldiers who call themselves “The Squad”.

The Squad quickly fights off the Commonwealth and kills Sopot. As they return to the new Red Faction base, it is revealed that the Squad’s leader, Molov (as well as other squad members Quill and Repta), who is now the game's second antagonist, has turned on them and now assumes control of the Commonwealth. Molov is attacked by another Squad member, Tangier, which allows all remaining Squad members (Alias, and a Red Faction member, Echo) a chance to escape.

As the game continues, Alias fights alongside Red Faction members (including Echo, who is killed by Quill), and eventually hunts and kills Quill after she kills Echo. Alias then has his last Battle with the Primary enemy of the Red Faction on the docks before heading into a Sub with Tangier to head underneath of the Statue of Sopot. Alias proceeds to a Commonwealth nanotech laboratory where he fights off hordes of processed civilians as well as their new friends, the processed military soldiers. After multiple battles with the processed, he encounters Repta in a dangerous nanotech electro-chamber. After that, he eventually triggers an explosion to cause Repta to fall into the bottomless pit. Alias continues on and is told by Tangier to blow 3 containers. After that is finished, he meets a processed version of an old enemy, the nanotech enhanced Elite Guards. After fighting the processed version of Sopot Elite Guards/Leaders, he encounters a processed version of Repta (dubbed Repta+). He kills Repta+ and heads completely into the statue, which is unstable from the destruction of the nanolabs. Molov, the last remaining enemy, retreats to the top of Victor Sopot's statue, which is guarded by an army of both nano-military soldiers and Elite Guards. He attempts to flee from the statue with the nano-cell. Tangier is in pursuit of him while he is trying to defend himself with his army of processed soldiers and with his railgun against the two.

Shrike is seen with a new gunship and then betrays Molov, saying "Remember Molov, if we fight, then we finish them". Tangier manages to reclaim the nanotech cell from Molov's possession and escapes to the observation deck.

For the finale, Alias battles Molov on foot while Molov is in his battle armor with the help of Shrike and his new self-controlled gunship. He destroys his battle armor and they both fight each other in a gun-to-gun battle. After a long fight, Molov is defeated as the observation deck begins to collapse. Shrike, now loyal to The Squad again, saves Alias from the crumbling statue. Depending on the player’s “Heroic” rating, the plot has four separate endings.

Red Faction: Guerilla
Red Faction: Guerrilla takes place in 2125. The Earth Defense Force (EDF), the allies in the original "Red Faction", has become the main antagonist of Guerrilla. Earth's natural resources have run scarce, and as a result, its global economy has collapsed from rampant speculation of commodities and lack of production. Under pressure by Earth's corporations and leaders to acquire the resources of Mars at any cost and at a pace to meet Earth's high demand, the EDF has forced Martian society into a permanent state of unfree labour. The newly-reformed "Red Faction" arises to rebel against the EDF, drive them off the planet, and begin fairer negotiations with Earth.

Alec Mason, the player character and a mining engineer [7], arrives on Mars to reunite with brother Daniel and begin a new life, only to learn to his surprise that Daniel is now a member of Red Faction. While on work detail, Daniel testifies about the EDF's cruelty to the Martian people and asks Alec to join their cause; he is soon after gunned down by an EDF gunship looking for him. Upon returning to find his housing and possessions seized by the EDF, Alec is convicted of being Red Faction. The commander of the EDF squad orders Alec shot, but Alec is then rescued by Red Faction guerrillas. He becomes a reluctant freedom fighter for the group alongside inventor "Sam" Samanya, rambling eccentric Jenkins (who believes that Mars should be "purified"), and commander Hugo Davies. Between Davies' command and Alec's skill and bravery, the EDF are quickly driven out of an entire sector, "Parker", for the first time.

While the campaign against the EDF continues in the "Dust" sector, Alec is eventually assigned by Davies to routine surveillance of the "Marauders", a mysterious and violent warrior tribe living in the inhospitable "Badlands", in hopes of recovering stolen weapons. Instead, Alec winds up tracking them to an abandoned Ultor Corporation base that promptly comes under massive assault from the EDF. During the fracas, Alec steals a strange device called the "Nano Forge" and escapes. The EDF responds by pulling out of the Dust Sector and ordering the artillery base in the "Free Fire Zone" to bomb the town of Dust into oblivion. Alec is then tasked with saving key members of red faction and vital information on the EDF from the bombardment, which he succeeds in doing.

Sam analyzes the Nano Forge and discovers it can create catastrophic nanites that can disintegrate any object. A prototype "Nano Rifle" is built from the device, which Alec uses to liberate other sectors, while Davies declares it a vital bargaining chip against the EDF. A successful suicide run against an EDF artillery base is commenced, allowing the group to begin hostilities against the EDF in their own central territories. Unfortunately, the EDF chooses this moment to launch an all-out assault on the Red Faction, resulting in the annihilation of the Red Faction's command center and the death of Davies. Only Sam, Alec and a handful of other rebels survive the assault; they learn afterward that the star ship Hydra under the command of Admiral Kobel is arriving to Mars to put an end to the Red Faction once and for all. They also plan to elminate all life on the planet, as said by Kobel himself, calling the civilians "Expendable".

Sam declares that they will need support from the Marauders if the campaign against the EDF is to continue; when Alec remains dubious, she reveals that she is a former Marauder herself, joining the Red Faction because marauders were consumed with anger and hate, and did not want to be a part of the lifestyle they endure. The pair head to a Marauder stronghold to meet with their ruler, Vasha, Sam's sister. Sam requests the usage of the Marauders' particle accelerator technology, with plans on combining it with the Nano Forge to create a superweapon capable of destroying the Hydra. Vasha agrees in exchange for possession of the Nano Forge once the war is finished. While inside the Marauder stronghold, the player can also discover a "radio tag" found on an old corpse that implies the Marauders are the descendants of former Ultor Corporation scientists.

After capturing a broadcasting station and using it to regroup the Red Faction, Sam and Alec lead a successful final assault on the EDF's central command alongside teams of Red Faction and the Marauders, driving the EDF out of their own territory. The two groups converge on Mt. Vogel to begin utilizing the Marauder's accelerator; however, a surprise EDF blitzkrieg lead by a General Roth wipes out the Marauder crew guarding the summit end of the accelerator and Vasha along with them. Alec singlehandedly storms the mountain, defeating Roth's entire army and personally killing Roth. Sam's plan succeeds and the accelerated Nano Forge is successful in vaporizing the Hydra in space. As the surviving people of Mars celebrate, Sam says the war is over, but Alec knows that the EDF will come back. While Sam says that will be awhile, Alec responds with "We'll be ready for 'em". Alec and Sam approach the crowds of civilians who cheer for them, and Alec raises his sledgehammer in the air, showing the sign of the Red Faction and their long-waited victory.

Red Faction: Origins (SyFy Movie with posibillity to be a series)
Twenty five years have passed since Alec Mason led the Martian Colonies to freedom...and ten years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra, and left a broken hero in their wake.

Jake Mason, Alec's last surviving son and a ranger in the Red Faction Militia, had never abandoned hope that somewhere in the raw outlands of Mars, his sister was still alive. Now, just as a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, he's found her, only to learn that his long lost sister is one of them...a cold blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction and conquer the planet in the name of a madman.

Jake must now battle the relentless regime and somehow reunite a family torn apart by war.

This is to tie in with the May 2011 release of the Game Red Faction: Armageddon, no plot is yet available for that game.

Gareth's Official Website

Red Faction
Gareth is to appear in Red Faction: Origins, a two hour movie for Syfy based on the popular Red Faction video games. Production begins in Bulgaria this week and the movie is due to air in May 2011. Robert Patrick (Terminator 2) stars as Alex Mason.

The movie follows the children of rebel hero Mason and is set during a period between the 'Red Faction Guerrilla' and 'Red Faction Armageddon' video games, the latter of which is also scheduled for release in May 2011.

I just hope Gareth has a large part (ignore the innuendo), and doesn't die. I wonder if he'll have a different accent? I've sort of heard him do an American accent when he was doing Jack in the audio book "The Sin Eaters" and I thought it was pretty good. But that was an imitation of John, rather than actually doing the accent himself, which I imagine would be different. Then again, it's Mars, so there is probably more than one accent on the planet.

In other Gareth news, Blue Gillespie is writing a theme album based on the poem "The Seven Ages of Man" by William Shakespeare. And they say Gareth won't be gone long.

Jared speaks at University Interscholastic League Academic State Meet

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:58:24 GMT

I first saw this posted by Embla at the Supernatural.tv forum.

From the Leaguer Online

May 25-26
Academic State Meet

Feature speaker, mother shine at Academic State Meet
Academics - Journalism
By Jeanne Acton
Monday, 01 June 2009

If you missed the UIL Academic State Meet this year, you missed something special.

If you asked the teenage girls, that something special was 27-year-old Jared Padalecki, star of Supernatural and former regular on Gilmore Girls. He was our feature speaker this year.

Rather than attempt to describe his looks in detail. After all, I am pushing 40 and don’t want you to think I’m a cougar, so I’ll simply state the facts. He is tall. He is lean and muscular, and he is tanned.

Not surprisingly, he’s been selected to two or three “sexiest celebrity” lists.

The girls and several of the advisers and a couple of the judges went all jello over him.

In fact, he was so intimidating that I wasn’t sure if any student was going to snap out of the star-struck state to ask a question. Luckily, Jared is an easy-going guy, and he quickly put the crowd at ease.

After a few moments of awkward silence, a girl raised her hand, asked a question, and Jared answered it in the most non-threatening, self-deprecating manner imaginable.

And so another hand shot up, and then another, and soon, the students found their groove and lost their inhibitions and got around to the task at hand.

As impressed as I was with Jared, I was more impressed with something else that day. I don’t mean to belittle him, and I hope I don’t appear ungrateful. He did a fantastic job, and I am pretty sure he made the trip to Austin for the students — even those who didn’t place — well worthwhile. But what I found to be truly special was watching Jared’s mother during his interview.

While the girls in the room followed Jared’s every twitch, twist and turn, I watched his mother, Sherri Padalecki, the award-winning journalism adviser from ****** High School, beaming with pride as he answered the questions politely, candidly and openly.

Jared made two things abundantly clear during the interview. He wasn’t a party boy living the wild life in Hollywood, and he wasn’t going to be seduced by fame and fortune. He is still a Texas guy who understands the importance of family and friends, and he spent a good deal of the interview talking about just that very thing.

And as Jared kept returning to this mantra during the interview, I watched Sherri. She glowed. She really glowed.

I can’t say I expected such a down-to-earth, no-nonsense guy when Sherri confirmed that Jared agreed to do the interview. Frankly, I half expected an egotistic, name-dropping, Hollywood stud.

But instead, the students were treated to a sweet, family-oriented guy who just happened to be one of TV’s sexiest stars.

When the interview was done, everyone in room knew that Jared was much more than a Hollywood stud.

Of course, I suspect Sherri knew that already.

I am sure she was already well-aware of the type of person her son was. After all, she and her husband are the ones who raised him. They gave him a solid foundation and strong convictions long before he became a TV star and teen heartthrob.

And that’s something Jared hasn’t forgotten. He didn’t drop a lot of names during his interview. He told the contestants to follow their passions and never forget where they came from. He really shined at state, not because he was some hunky star (which he is), but because he is a sincere, respectful, humble young man, the kind of son any mother would be proud of whether he’s a celebrity or a candy-store clerk.

I jokingly called Sherri, “Proud Mama” at the State Meet, and today I call her that again. But I am not kidding this time. I’m sincere and in awe.

The award mentioned that Mrs. Padalecki won was the 2007 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. Here is her blurb from The Leaguer

Sherri Padalecki
San Antonio ******* High School
An award-winning ILPC newspaper adviser, Sherri Padalecki, also has coached UIL journalism for 19 years at ******* High School. She has produced numerous regional and state qualifiers, five state champions in journalism and has had a student receive a scholarship from the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation. She has acted as Academic Coordinator and District Chair four times, coordinated seven district and four regional journalism competitions and hosted numerous district and invitational meets to prepare students for UIL academic competition.

“Academic competition motivates students to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and run with it, take risks, expand upon the knowledge and solve problems,” Padalecki said. “UIL academics provides another dimension to not only build character but also foster an interest and build depth in educational pursuits en route to becoming lifelong leaders.”

At the 1996-1997 UIL One Act Play competition, Jared won Honorable Mention All-Star Cast for his part in "My Heart’s In the Highlands". The play itself won second place.

Suggested Guidelines for Conventions

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:09:55 GMT

Uh, Supernatural Fandom?

Hi, could we chat for just a sec?

Super!

Here's a topic -

Originally written April 7, 2008, but not posted publicly. Now, though, after reading an Asylum report by shannon_doll, I don't care if I get flamed, this stuff really needs to be said.

Convention Etiquette

Here are some suggested guidelines for convention-goers.

If you happen to be a "wild rebel" who doesn't give a rat's ass what anyone else in the fandom, or anyone else period, thinks of you or what you do, including the actors, and nothing pisses you off more than someone else telling you what to do, you should spend your time elsewhere. This won't help you anyway. These are not the droids you're looking for. Bye-bye.

First Rule - The Actors Are Human Beings.

Therefore -

I. Do not embarrass the actors.
- A. Do not ask about fanfic, wincest, photomanipulations, or fan art - these are all FAN generated, NOT SHOW or ACTOR generated! These are fandom pursuits, they do not involve the actors, directors, producers, writers, or anyone officially connected to the show! It is a SEPARATE thing. It is not the responsibility of the actors to acknowledge, condemn or condone it, leave them OUT of it! They're ACTORS, doing their JOB and they take time out of their PERSONAL LIVES to come and meet with fans at conventions.

-- 1. If for some reason you are just dying to know, check YouTube or LJ. It's already been done, MORE THAN ONCE, let's not do it again.

- B. Do not present them with fanfic, or even mildly obscene or homoerotic works of art.
- C. Do not bring up fandom problems or problems you personally have with something regarding fandom i.e. you hate Wincest and want an actor to back you up. They are NOT there to arbitrate fan disputes or make comments on fandom controversies! You deal with your fandom problems YOURSELF!

- D. Do not insult them or their character, even indirectly.
- E. Do not express a preference for one actor over the other.
- F. During a duo Q&A, try to make sure they are asked an equal number of questions.
-- 1. Have questions ready for each actor and ask the actor who is getting fewer.
-- 2. Ask a question both can answer.

II. Do not bore the actors.
- A. Check YouTube or LJ to see if your question has already been asked.
-- 1. If you must ask a question that has already been asked try to make it more specific, i.e. What is your favorite episode could instead be -
--- a. What is your favorite episode of the most recent season?
--- b. What is your favorite (co-star) scene/performance?
--- c. What has been your favorite stunt/set/prop/piece of wardrobe?
(I'm not inferring that these are great questions, just examples)

III. Do not put the actors in a situation where they have to tell you no.
- A. Understand that there are 100 or so other fans who want to ask a question.
-- 1. So have your question ready, and do not ramble.
-- 2. Don't ask for hugs or kisses because there isn't time to hug and kiss everyone.
-- 3. Do not give gifts during the Q&A because it takes up too much time.
--- a. Give gifts at the autograph table.
--- b. If you weren't financially able to purchase an autograph ticket, and you must present the gift at the Q&A, make your way to the stage as quickly as possible, and be brief in whatever you have to say.

Autograph Table Etiquette
I. Understand that there are 100 or so other fans who want an autograph.
- A. Do not ask the actor to write a novel on your pic.
- B. This is your face-to-face moment, think about what you want to say.
- C. Do not ask the actor to sign anything you wouldn't show your mother, or his mother.

Photo Op Etiquette
I. Understand that there are 100 or so other fans who want a photo op.
- A. Do not ask for a special pose.
-- 1. If you must ask for a special pose, be the last in line.
--- a. If you must ask for a special pose, and you cannot be the last in line, at least ask for something simple and quick.
- B. If you have props, get them out and ready during the previous photo op.
- C. Don't ask that a second pic be taken because you screwed up.
-- 1. Pay attention to the photo ops before yours.
--- a. If the photographer isn't asking anyone else when they're ready, Be Ready.
-- 2. Talk AFTER the pic is taken.
--- a. If you talk before, you will be talking WHEN the pic is taken.
- D. If the actor is sitting/standing, don't ask him to change positions
-- 1. Unless you are physically challenged
-- 2. Unless the height differential is more than seven inches
-- 3. Unless he asks if you'd like him to.

Convention Hotel Etiquette
I. If you see an actor in the hallway.
- A. If they are standing still, approach, be polite and be brief.
-- 1. Do not interrupt them if they are having a conversation with someone else.
- B. If they are walking, approach and be very very brief.
-- 1. Note whether they seem to be walking toward a restroom, in which case, do not approach.
- C. If they are running, do not approach.

II. If you see an actor in the elevator.
- A. Be polite, make casual conversation.
-- 1. Do not follow him out of the elevator to continue the conversation.

III. If you see an actor in a restaurant/bar. (Not during a special convention event)
- A. Approach, be polite, be brief.
-- 1. Do not greet actor when he is chewing.

IV. If you see an actor in the restroom.
- A. Do Not Approach.

Second Rule - See First Rule

Third Rule - Behave As If Everyone Else At The Con Will Be Reporting YOUR Every Move On LJ And Posting All YOU Do And Say On YouTube The Next Day.

I think all this is reasonable. Conduct yourself with a little class, is all I'm saying. Put yourself in the actor's place. For instance, I'm not saying the actors don't LOVE to be asked about fanfic, maybe they do. I'm just saying that, to me, it's not appropriate. It's a fan thing. It's not part of their job. They didn't sign on for it. They shouldn't have to deal with it, or be confronted with it in front of large crowds of people.

Be nice. Be thoughtful. Do your part to make everything run smoothly. You do what you can to make the actor feel comfortable and have a good time, and he'll do the same for you, and everybody wins.

Also, I'm not posting each of these in response to some horrible incident that has occurred at a Supernatural Convention. I'm posting it because I thought that all of these were basic understandings that all fans had, and apparently some of them are not. I think they should be. Maybe you don't, fine that's your opinion. And of course, even if you agree with the rules, there are always special circumstances which are the exceptions which prove the rule.

Finally, I'm not a perfect picture of manners and etiquette. NOTHING gives me the power to tell anybody else what to do, much less an entire fandom. If you disagree with the rules, or take issue with me posting them, fine, don't follow them, do what you want. Ask about Wincest. Insult an actor. Take one down with a flying tackle if you feel that's an appropriate behavior. Just don't say, "I don't understand why I shouldn't?" or "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to!" or "Why is everybody mad at me?" or "I can't believe (Jensen/Jared/Jim/Dairwendan) got a restraining order against me!"

6/4/09 revision

Some final notes/reminders.

1. The actors are not your friends. It's fine to be casual and friendly with them, but you don't get to try to embarrass them, make fun of them or make negative comments on their personal appearance.

2. When both actors are onstage, it is RUDE, and UNACCEPTABLE to declare in any way which one is your favorite or (believe it or not, this is true) to ask a question of only one of them. I realize that few people understand this, but the truth is, if you have a question that only one of them could answer, you should ask that at his individual panel. This is not about YOU getting to ask YOUR question and OMG what if you don't get in line in time for HIS panel, so you have to ask it NOW!!!!! I know many of you may disagree with me, but it's true. It's about the actors and the fans having some Q & A time. The REASON that there are panels with J2 is for questions to be asked of THE BOTH OF THEM! The reason that there are panels with each one individually is for questions to be asked of each one individually!

3. The money you pay to go to the con doesn't entitle you to ANYTHING regarding the actors! You are paying guests at the con. The actors are paid guests at the con. You are all guests there together. It is the con organization and staff who are HOSTING you both. The actors don't run the con. So when they do their very best to accomodate things like autographs, photos, Q&As, greetings and farewells, even though the schedule is completely fucked up, and things are running late or short, you need to understand that they are doing that out of the goodness of their hearts, and their appreciation of you as fans.

4. Before you open your mouth to speak to an actor, especially to ask a question at a Q&A, consider three things.

First, please, imagine that you are about to ask this question of a similar sized man, face to face, who is not in front of an audience and has no obligation to be polite to you. Still think that's an appropriate thing to say?

If so, then imagine that it's you up there, in front of a bunch of strangers, knowing that this moment will probably be on YouTube within the hour, and that you have to be not only polite but good-humored, and someone asks you what you are about to ask? Still want to do that?

Okay, last test, imagine it's your mother/father/grandpa/little sister/son/daughter or other loved one and they are in the actor's place and what you are about to do is going to be done to him/her/them. Is it going to embarrass them? Hurt their feelings? Irritate them? Make them uncomfortable? Put them on the spot? Are you REALLY sure you want to say this?

If your question/comment passes the tests, go ahead.

5. The actors signed on for a particular set of activities - answering questions, signing autographs and taking pictures. Don't go beyond the job description. This means do NOT ask the actors to sing, dance, say a line, make a face, recreate a scene, etc. Especially not when they've been asked over and over. And you certainly do not BOO an actor when they decline to perform for you! Remember, you are at a convention, not an improv show! You don't get to shout out demands and have the person onstage do whatever you say!

6. You do not know the actors' personal business. If an actor doesn't come to a certain event (a wine tasting, a party, a stage farewell, etc.) you do not know WHY this is. You do not know the health and well-being of all of his friends and family. You do not know how he physically feels. Is he ill? Are his eyes hurting? Is his arm aching? You do not know how he mentally feels. Is it the anniversary of a death or negative event in his life? Is he worried about something or someone? Is he just plain in a bad mood (all human beings are allowed to have those, by the way)? You do not know his schedule for that day or the next, there ARE more things going on in his life and career that weekend than this particular convention. You do not know who may be depending on him to be in a certain place, or call at a certain time, or why. So how about giving him the benefit of the doubt, is that really too much to ask?

7. There will always be those whose behavior will embarrass the entire fandom. When someone says or does something inappropriate in your presence, first audibly gasp in horror and physically turn to stare at the person for their complete lack of couth. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, then maybe you could roll your eyes, shake your head, or drop your head into your hands. Please do something to show the actors that MOST of the fandom does NOT think that what this person said/did is okay. Get the attention of a con staff member, if one isn't already there. Then let the staff handle it.

ETA: I (probably insanely) posted a cleaned up version of this on Super-Wiki (no F-word, much less sarcasm and CAPSLOCK and without the "wild rebel" paragraph). Now I guess I'll see how many people will be offended by my saying 'hey, don't be rude'. Or if the admin team will delete it. Don't know why I'm doing this to myself, except that I kind of hope that someone who has been told that he's fat or boo'd because he wouldn't perform on command, might maybe look at it and go 'Oh, hey, yeah, that was just one stray crazy. They're not all like that.' Not because they're actors, but because they were essentialy bullied. And I gotta stand against that.

Anyway, it cleaned up nice and pretty.

2ETA: It was deleted from Super-Wiki the next day. Too inflammatory. And that was the NICE version! *LOL*

SPN - Lucifer Rising

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:38:16 GMT

I don't have time to do a whole review, so I'll just say this. Ruby died. Bobby lived. Dean said "I'm sorry" (even if Sam didn't hear it). Sam said "I'm sorry." And the boys are back together! So I'm happy!

Bonus - Castiel went Rogue!

And the angels weren't exactly the "right" side either so both of the boys were being used. What good is paradise on earth if you dodn't care how many people have to die to bring it about?

And, "God has left the building"? LAME way out of that one, Kripke! L-A-M-E! You should have thought of this before you brought demons in, and DEFINITELY before you brought angels in! You HAD to know that you were going to have to deal with God eventually! So, "God has left the building"? WTF does that MEAN anyway? God is dead? God isn't paying attention to earth because Sirius Vega-5 is so much more interesting? God's got Alzheimer's? Help me out here!

It would have been perfect if Sam would have refused to bleed the nurse.

However, I do see some more Sam redemption here.

He still loved Dean, even after what Dean said. He walked away because he wanted Dean to be safe. But he thought he had to sacrifice himself, even his soul, to save the world.

We know Ruby got to him when he was most vulnerable, when he was looking for a way to save Dean from Hell. He was desperate. And neither he nor Bobby could find any options. Then, she and Lillith conspired to make sure Dean went to Hell.

Dean's being tortured, Sam knows that, and knows that it's his fault. He's looking for ways to get Dean out of Hell. He's looked for rituals, he's tried prayer, he's tried to make a deal with the crossroads demon. Nothing is working. He's devastated and depressed.

Then, Ruby comes back. She says she can help him find Lillith, and kill her. Maybe that will break the deal? If not at least it'll be justice or revenge.

She tells him about the powers he has and how to make them stronger. Strong enough to kill Lillith. She tells him that drinking her blood, or any demon blood, will do it. But the demon blood doesn't enhance the powers, Sam can do that himself. What the demon blood does do is addict Sam to Ruby. An addiction stronger than crack, meth or nicotine. Messes with his mind, and he truly believes that everything he is doing is ultimately for the good.

And, now that we know that the angels aren't being commanded by God, I think it's obvious that Sam's exorcising demons with his mind, therefore saving the victim, actually is a good thing. The angels were just trying to drive a wedge between Dean and Sam.

We also now know that Ruby could make Sam hear whatever she wanted him to hear. Did it work visually also? How else did she screw with his mind?

Dean was tortured in Hell for thirty years, and then he got up off of the rack and became a torturer himself, unwittingly breaking the first seal. No one blames him for what he did to those people (except himself) and no one should.

Sam saw Dean die, hundreds of times, in hundreds of ways, right in front of him, and couldn't stop it. He lived without Dean for months before he could track down the trickster and beg for him back. Then he saw the hellhounds rip Dean apart, right in front of his eyes, and couldn't stop it. And he'd been trying for a year to prevent it. He failed, spectacularly. He did everything he could to try to get Dean back. Everything. He tried to switch places, he didn't care anything abot himself anymore. All he could think about was what must be happening to Dean in Hell. It's mental agony.

Is it worse for something to happen to a loved one, or to have the same thing happen to yourself?

It's traumatizing either way. And destructive to the psyche and the mind.

Is physical pain worse than emotional guilt? I don't know what good it did him, but Dean did have the satisfaction that he'd saved Sammy. All Sam had was the unbelivable pain, guilt and self-hatred that he'd failed Dean.

Dean told him not to use his powers. But Sam was convinced that doing so was the only way to save Dean. Once Dean was back, it was the only way to stop the apocalypse, also saving Dean. If it's the only way, he's gotta do it. It's the same thinking that led Dean to make his deal with the crossroads demon.

I'm not saying that I agree with everything that the writers have had Sam do or say this season. I would have certainly changed a few things. But within the reality of the show, I think if you can forgive Dean, you should forgive Sam.

ETA: I've been reading other reviews now and most people seem to think that it was Zachariah, or the angels, who changed Dean's voicemail. I thought it was Ruby, especially when she had that smug little smirk on her face. Also, she WANTED Sam to listen to the voicemail "What are you a 12 year old girl? Just listen to it!"

So who do you think did it, and why do you think it was him/her/them?

Unsubstantiated Rumor Mongering

Wed, 06 May 2009 05:56:39 GMT

An anonymous donor gave $600,000 to San Antonio Animal Care Services. The money will be used as a grant to fund spay/neuter sevices in order to reach San Antonio's goal of zero euthanizations of healthy, adoptable animals by 2012.

$600,000 gift for S.A. animals
By Brian Chasnoff

The new director of Animal Care Services stood by Monday as city leaders announced a $600,000 grant that over three years will fund local spay and neuter programs. On the steps of City Hall, Mayor Phil Hardberger called the gift from an anonymous donor a boon to the city’s goal of stopping the killing of healthy, adoptable animals by 2012.

“It is indeed a great day for our furry friends,” Hardberger said. “But we still need the cooperation of our citizens.”

Local clinics currently are capable of providing about 51,000 sterilizations a year. But in a city with more than 700,000 animals, at least 100,000 sterilizations a year are needed to stop the population growth, said Melissa Draper, chief veterinarian at ACS.

“We have an enormous pet overpopulation in San Antonio,” she said.

About five years ago, the agency was euthanizing about 50,000 cats and dogs a year — the most per capita among major American cities. Heightened public awareness brought changes, including an increased adoption rate and creation of The OwnUp SA Consortium of Partners to oversee a strategic plan to stop the killing.

Yet ACS euthanized more than 26,000 cats and dogs last year, or nearly 75 percent of those brought to its facility. Officials have acknowledged that the 2012 goal would remain elusive if the current rate of sterilizations did not increase.

“We have almost cut (the euthanasia rate) in half,” Hardberger said. “I cannot honestly tell you (if the 2012 goal is attainable), but we are on a very good trajectory.”

In the face of such a challenge, Spurs Sports & Entertainment Chairman Peter Holt, a consortium member, told reporters that the hefty grant will go a long way toward keeping the 2012 goal alive.

“In these economic times, it’s a real shot in the arm,” Holt said.

Hendel, who has directed three other animal shelters, said he’s committed to the goal.

Yet while stressing the need for more sterilizations and adoptions, he acknowledged a coexistent need to clear the streets of stray cats and dogs.

“It’s a very tough goal,” Hendel said. “I wish that I had a couple more years, because some of the things I’d like to do will bring more animals into the facility.”

To further the city’s efforts, OwnUp SA is asking individuals, corporations and other foundations to donate to its program. Visit www.saafdn.org or call the San Antonio Area Foundation at (210) 242-4711 to help.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . .

YouTube video by shadowfax220. Fangoria January 18-20, 2008 in Austin, Texas. Talking about Sadie being a shepard/'dingo' mix and Harley. "Go rescue shelters!"

YouTube video by caithream. Salute to Supernatural, Chicago, November 2007. Sadie and Harley and the vet's cat.

YouTube video by tinkabell007. EyeCon April 4-6, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. Jared gets portraits of his dogs by MysticKitty512 and SnObLuv.

YouTube video by hmfergie. CW Launch Party, Jared describing Sadie, playing with Harley and Sadie.

YouTube video by lillyshow4u, WB Inside & Out. at 4:30 Jared talkes about Sadie and Harley.

Okay, so I'm just sayin', the guy likes animals, and he's from San Antonio, and he once worked on a ranch owned by Peter Holt . . .

More on Jared and A Dog's Life Rescue

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:17:39 GMT

From supernaturallvr by way of book_choco_loco.
Excerpt from Spotlight on “A Dog’s Life Rescue”....By Lindsay Warren

Picture from 'A Dog's Life Rescue' main page

This is where “Supernatural’s” Jared Padalecki comes into the picture. He recently formally endorsed “A Dog’s Life Rescue.” Jared got involved through a mutual friend of Allison. “Jared has two rescue dogs of his own, which I am sure you know about, and he wanted to help more with animals and charities,” Allison said. When Jared had some time off work in Vancouver, he came home to LA and he got to meet “Mika.” Allison said the two really hit it off! “Mika really took to Jared and he was so great with her.” (Why does this not surprise us?)..

While in town, Jared was also able to go on a street rescue with Allison. He plans on going on more rescues with the group and will continue to work with the group on education and community awareness. Allison added, “He respects what ‘A Dog’s Life Rescue’ does and we are so happy to have him involved. It’s been a good match.” (We think so too!)..

Full interview here.

Don't forget, if you make a donation to 'A Dog's Life Rescue', let them know at Support Supernatural and leave a note for Jared, Jensen or both!

Previous post on Jared and Mika

Happy Easter!

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 07:23:17 GMT

I really should have posted this before, but RL has been kicking my ass and Easter has snuck up on me on little fuzzy bunny paws!

Anyway, NEXT year, if you are looking for a great story to read, for your self, or any children in your life, you should check out The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Dubose Heyward.

I got it from Scholastic Book Services back in 1st grade and loved it! I found it again about six years ago, after we moved here and I couldn't believe how wonderful and 'contemporary' the underlying message was.

A little country girl bunny wants to grow up to be an Easter Bunny. Everyone tells her that she can't. She end up getting married and having 21 children. Then she gets a chance to go and try out. All of the others are cityboy jack rabbits and they laugh at her. But she uses the gifts she already has, perseveres and works hard and as an aside teaches her children about independence and cooperation. And then her courage, endurance and compassion earn her a special gift.

Jared Endorses "A Dog's Life Rescue"

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:24:07 GMT

(I hope agt_spooky doesn't mind me stealing this icon back!)

Remember those pictures from back in December with Jared and the little crippled puppy?

Well her name is Mika and this is what it's all about.

Television: Supernatural Star Jared Padalecki Endorses ‘A Dog’s Life Rescue’
March 21st, 2009
Posted by: M R Reed in Television

It’s no secret in Supernatural fandom that Jared Padalecki, the hot young actor who plays Sam Winchester in the hit CW Network series, is an animal lover, especially dogs. I don’t think there is a fan out there who hasn’t seen photos of Jared Padalecki with his beloved dogs, Sadie and Harley, two rescued pups who are near and dear to his heart.

These days, Jared Padalecki has taken another dog into his heart in a different way. Her name is Mika and she is one of the special rescued dogs at a Los Angeles based animal rescue organization known as ‘A Dog’s Life Rescue’. Mika was found in an alley at just two weeks of age by a young man walking home from school. The boy’s mom contacted A Dog’s Life Rescue for help because Mika is a special needs puppy. Mika is paralyzed from the waist down. Mika has no idea she is different from other dogs. She gets around on her own and is so full of life and love. She is absolutely inspiring.

It is this inspiring story of Mika that has lead Padalecki to lend his name and endorsement to the organization. To learn more about Mika and her story that touched Jared Padalecki’s heart go here.

A Dog’s Life Rescue is a non-profit rescue organization in Los Angeles, California. After the disband of Connect-A-Pet Rescue in early 2005 partners Julia Pennington, Keely Quinn, and Allison Lange joined together to form A Dog’s Life Rescue. Our mission is to save the lives of abandoned, abused, or neglected dogs and other animals, by providing shelter, care, and medical attention to homeless animals through adoption, adoption events, and community outreach. Further, to promote animal welfare and the importance of spaying and neutering.

Supernatural fans can help Jared Padalecki support ‘A Dog’s Life Rescue’ by making donations directly to the site organizers whom he has put his full support and endorsement behind to help raise money for the many abandoned and special animals like Mika who are in need of caring people like Jared Padalecki to help them have better lives.

You can visit the “First Giving” website specifically for Mika:
http://www.firstgiving.com/formika or for more information you contact adogsliferescue@yahoo.com.

Meanwhile don’t forget to check out Jared Padalecki along with his equally hot young co-star Jensen Ackles, who plays Dean Winchester, in a brand new episode of the hit series Supernatural every Thursday night at 9PM EST on the CW Network.

2009 Charity Campaign - "A Dog's Life Rescue"

From the mouth of Jared's publicist, it's official! Jared Padalecki is officially endorsing the animal charity called "A Dog's Life Rescue".

From the charity's site: "A Dog's Life Rescue is a non-profit rescue organization in Los Angeles, California. After the disband of Connect-A-Pet Rescue in early 2005 partners Julia Pennington and Allison Lange joined together to form A Dog's Life Rescue. Our mission is to save the lives of abandoned, abused, or neglected dogs and other animals, by providing shelter, care, and medical attention to homeless animals through adoption, adoption events, and community outreach. Further, to promote animal welfare and the importance of spaying and neutering."

In an additional note, ALL staff at "A Dog's Life Rescue" are volunteers which means 100% of all donations will be going to the animals!

Want to leave a message for Jared and/or Jensen after your make your donation? Do it here. After the campaign Lindsay and I will be giving the boys a little care package at the Vancouver convention in August which will include all the comments left here.
If you have a message JUST for Jared or JUST for Jensen, please put the name of which boy the message is for, before your note.

Also, please ONLY leave a message if you have made a donation. Again, it doesn't matter what the size of the donation is. Every donation counts!!!

A Dog's Life Rescue Page at Petfinder.com
News
Feral Cats in Need! A Dog's Life Rescue is working hard to save a colony of feral cats recently discovered and who until now have been suffering from such terrible neglect. These cats have been barely surviving on occasional feedings by good samaritans but no one was spaying and neutering them. Females were reproducing and babies were starving to death once weaned and we found several dead bodies our first few days at the location. Now with our involvement we have been able to raise the overall health of the colony and spay/neuter 16 of the cats. We have 10 to go! We desperately need foster homes for the tiny kittens we are finding. This is no place for the kittens to have to grow up. We'd like to adopt them into loving homes but we need foster homes to help us do this. Please, if you can help contact us right away. 310-590-PETS

Come visit us and see our animals in person. We hold adoption events the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturday of every month in WEST LOS ANGELES at Centenela Feed and Pet Supplies from noon til 4p.m., 11055 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles (1 block east of Sepulveda), 310-473-5910

A Dog's Life Rescue
357 South Fairfax Ave
# 282
LA,CA 90036
Phone:
310-590-7387

Happy Ending for a Crippled Pit Bull Mix Rescue
Wheelchair and Lots of TLC Given to Abandoned Puppy
Amherst, NH (Dec. 29, 2008) – New Hampshire’s HandicappedPets.com and Los Angeles’ A Dog’s Life Rescue team up to help a rescued pit bull mix walk again.

It all started when a high school boy saw an abandoned three-week old puppy in an alley while walking home from school. He scooped up the pup and brought her to Alli Lange, co-founder of A Dog’s Life Rescue, known for rescuing dogs and cats from the streets.

The pit bull mix, who Alli named Mika, is paralyzed from the hind end down and has a pelvic deformity. Alli fostered the dog in her own home and discovered that Mika was going to enjoy life no matter what – the dog scooted around with the use of her front legs, apparently oblivious to the fact that she was “handicapped.”

When HandicappedPets.com came across a video of Mika on the Internet, they were impressed with the pup’s indomitable spirit. They sent her a Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair – the only adjustable kind on the market – which will allow Mika, now six months old, to grow with the cart.

Mark C. Robinson, founder of HandicappedPets.com and designer of the state-of-the-art wheelchair, wishes he could help every dog live a happy, high quality life. He hopes that Mika will help show people how being “handicapped” doesn’t have to be a death sentence. And Mika’s zest for life can teach the world to look on the bright side of things and not let perceived shortcomings hold you back – powerful lessons from a pooch with a rough start.

###
A Dog's Life Rescue saves the lives of abandoned, abused, or neglected dogs and other animals by providing shelter, care, and medical attention to homeless animals. It also promotes animal welfare and the importance of spaying and neutering. www.adogsliferescue.org, (310) 590-7387, South Fairfax Ave #282, LA, CA 90036

HandicappedPets.com provides everything – products, services, and support – pet caretakers need to help their disabled, injured, or elderly pets enjoy healthy, happy, active lives. www.HandicappedPets.com, (888) 811-PETS, 10 Northern Blvd., #7 Amherst, NH 03031

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:34:25 GMT

These pics do not belong to me. I found them through Google searches. I don't have permission to post them. I just think they're cute! If anything belongs to you and you'd like me to take it down, please let me know!

All Clickable!

ATTENTION Christian Kane Fans!

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:08:29 GMT

You want this Chris Kane header?

First to comment can have it.

And the end of Leverage last night was MEAN and WRONG and if I didn't already know it was coming back this summer I would be so pissed!

But it IS coming back *happy sigh* So I'll let Dean Devlin off, this time.

Jared has Family Emergency

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:48:37 GMT

Jared has cancelled his appearance at the Cherry Hill, NJ, Creation Con.
From Creationent.com

February 20, 2009: We have been advised that Jared Padalecki has an unforeseen personal commitment that prevents him from attending this convention. Jared has been a great friend to Creation Entertainment and to his loyal fans and we look forward to working with him again soon, including in LA in a few weeks. While a cancellation of a star of Jared's stature is never pleasant we are working on providing the absolute very best convention we can and as such today we have announced the addition of four new guests for the convention: JIM BEAVER, CHAD LINDBERG, GABRIEL TIGERMAN, and TODD STASHWICK. We will be refunding payments to those that ordered separate Jared Photo Ops and autograph tickets early next week. We will be adding autograph tickets and photo ops for our new guests early next week as well.

ALL GUESTS are contracted to appear and all convention contracts specify that appearances are tentative and subject to change as film and television work demands take precedence.

Of course this was also reported on the Supernatural Conventions MySpace Page, and Anita, who maintains the page, also posted this in response to questions.

Feb 21 2009 4:30 PM

Jared has a family emergency and we feel very sad for both him and the fans. It's not our fault. That's all I know. It's very disappointing for all of us. It's terrible and Creation can't do anything about it other than try to offer everyone additional guests for the NJ Convention.

It could be a serious emergency that will require his presence for the next few weeks, or, as justannanow posted on Supernatural_TV, it could be that he has to leave filming now to take care of the emergency, so he'll have to make up filming during the convention dates.

I'm really sorry for everyone who bought tickets, and especially for those who won the lunch, not sure what will happen with that, nothing on the Creation page yet, I know this is disappointing and no one can afford to lose that kind of money.

But I'm also really concerned for Jared, it's so soon after losing Kim, I can't imagine how upsetting this must be. My thoughts and prayers are with him and and his family and I hope everything turns out okay.

SPN - Sex and Violence

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:22:00 GMT

I liked Sarah. I like Cara. Some weird assonance mojo goin' on here or what?

The first scene reminded me of "Metamorphosis", which made me miss Kim.

I love that Dean looks over to check on Sam when he wakes up. I love that Sam uses the endearment "kiddo". I know they got that from John. Even though they use it mockingly sometimes, it was always positive from John.

Sammy calling Ruby on the sly does not seem good. But on the other hand, if they find Lilith, and kill her, nobody has to worry about the damn seals anymore. Why does Dean feign sleep instead of calling him on it? Maybe he's just tired. Tired of confrontation. Maybe he thinks he can keep a better line on what Sam's doing by going stealth? He probably can.

*shallow moment* The boys look DAMN good in suits, yeah? I like Sam's hair better casual, like the previous scene. I like Dean's hair better here. /*shallow moment*

You know a ton, and I mean a full metric TON, of little girls have been named Jasmine since Aladdin was first released by Disney. It's not exactly stripper specific. What names do kinda scream stripper? Candi? Brandi? Star? Kitty? Honey? Sugar?

But then when you put together Jasmine, Aurora, Ariel and Belle you've got some Disney Princesses, right? If they're trying to say that when you strip away the Disney, you have some deep, dark stuff going on in those fairy tales they bastardize, then that's pretty cool.

But probably the writer was just looking for some names and happened to look over and see some little girl running around in a DP t-shirt.

Stiles and Murdoch = Tod Stiles and Buzz Murdoch from Route 66.

Of course I was immediately suspicious of Dr. Cara Roberts. Because hardly anybody ever flirts with the boys without ending up dead, blind or evil. Oxytocin, never heard of it before.

Dean accusing Sam of cock blocking him - ha! Damn it was cold the day they filmed outside the medical center! You can see the boys' breath! The one time they're NOT wearing five layers of clothing, figures. Poor babies. Dean's delight in a job with strippers "FINALLY!" is great!!!

I'm thinkin' they didn't have much problem rounding up extras for the strip club scene. Oh, and definitely Warrant's Cherry Pie.

So, sirens, huh? Good ol' Bobby, always comin' up with the goods! I love that they twisted it totally away from water.

I went back after having seen the episode an checked out the strip club for mirrors. They were good, no mirrors. Mostly wood and the metal was matte. All hail Jerry Wanek!

LOVE that they put in Dean's literary reference to the Odyssey! I looked up who wrote this, Cathryn Humphris! I love her! She wrote "BUABS" and "Dead Man's Blood."

Poor Lenny's mom! God, her screams are awful.

Stealth Dean, checking out Sam's phone. Interesting aside, Ruby's area code, 219, used to be my area code. But few years ago they split up the 219 area and added two more area codes. So she's somewhere close to Gary, IN. The full number, in case someone wants to call, 219-555-0124.

When the phone rang, I thought for sure it was Ruby calling back to ask wth was with the hang up?

"Juice one of the OJs in jail" - I love that line! *LOL*

Enter Nick Monroe. How much do I LOVE the phone set up at Bobby's!!!! Federal Marshall, FBI - I can't read the other ones because I'm still using a VCR and old tapes. I just know one of the Winchesters bought Bobby that "Kiss The Cook" apron!

When Sam wanted Dean to leave him alone with the doc, I thought for sure she must be the siren. But when Nick was impressed with the Impala, I started suspecting him. When they were trading Led Zep trivia, I thought there must be two sirens, and the 'they usually work alone' thing was a red herring.

When Dr. Cara brought out the booze, I thought, "Okay her definitely, Nick maybe", cause what Dr. offers whiskey to a FED when they're both 'on duty' and then pours her heart out to him? And why would Sam take it, and NOT take his phone call unless he was under some supernatural influence? And then the sex? IN the office?

Oh and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that they didn't telegraph this, and promo the hell out of it, like they have the other times they got Jared shirtless. This is MUCH better!

Sam's calls list = Dean, Bobby, 2195550124, Dean, Bobby, 219
He doesn't notice there's a call to Ruby which he didn't make?

I love Jared's delivery of "No" on answer to Dean's "Did you sleep with her?"

I'm surprised Sam didn't take more offense to Dean accusing him of banging monsters. Especially in the Madison case, since that was so emotional.

Then of course I thought Sam was so upset because he wanted Dean to meet him so he could kill him and he wouldn't. Then I started to think maybe it's not Nick at all, especially after we saw Nick see Cara get out of a taxi at the strip club.

And I thought Dean was giving Nick a drink, spiked with holy water, just to be sure, and I'm thinking "Smart Dean!" Then I saw Dean take that second drink and I thought, "Oh Shit, Dean!" This is at least the second time he took a drink when he shouldn't have.

Then I was thinking Cara and Nick were maybe rival sirens fighting for turf, and they were gonna see who could get whose zombie to kill the other, loser leaves.

Of course, once Nick spit at Sam's mouth, or whatever you want to call that crazy shit, I knew Cara was off the hook. So, let's rewind a sec. The siren, as Belle, must've read the boys' minds when they were in the strip club, known where they'd been and that they were posing as FBI agents. Also knew their issues and that what each loved most in the world was his brother. And what each wanted most in the world was his 'old' brother back. Went home with Lenny, did it's thing, looked up some info on the FBI. Went to Dr. Cara's the next day as Nick, swiped the blood samples, swiped some hyacinth blossoms, talked to the boys, got happy with Dean. Dean and it split up, it calls Dr. Cara and tells her, for some reason, that she needs to get down to the strip club. Bing, bang, boom, and here we are again.

So, is Nick Dean's 'dream little brother'? Well he's still taller than Dean. But not as tall as Sam. He's not as good looking as Sam or Dean. All of which makes sense because it couldn't have known which brother it would get close to first, so it had to go for a neutral middle physically.

Is Nick Dean's 'dream little brother' psychologically, emotionally? Oh yeah! He loves all the things Dean loves. He's smart enough to stump him. He's comfortable knocking back drinks in a strip club. He's there when he needs him. He trusts him. Sammy 2.0 - smaller, uglier, geek-free! Now more Dean-friendly!

But is that even necessary, once the venom gets into the victim? Apparently all Sam needed was the venom to 'fall in love' with the siren. Then again, maybe it helps. After all, Dean would have won that fight. Nick hadn't displayed what Sam wanted in a big brother, so ultimately, killing Dean to be with Nick was just the slightest bit less of a compulsion for Sam than vice-versa with Dean?

Whatever. BOBBY FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!!

As an aside, I just know that Jared and Jensen must've LOVED doing that fight scene!

Love love love the brothers' horrified looks at each other! I need screencaps of those!

I think Harper's Island has done something with Jim's facial hair. Bobby's lookin' kinda spiffed up!

So, they're good.

. . . yeah right.

Except that what Sam said was pretty demonic. 'So you tortured people, suck it up and let's kill this bitch'? Actually it was kinda John Winchester-ic as well. I dislike that both here and in Asylum, Sam has been very mean to Dean. But then Dean has full-on punched Sam in the face four times, without being under the influence of anything. Does that even the score? Is it comparable? I don't know. I can definitely say though that I would have much preferred Sam to go all darkside in order to save Dean, as was originally planned for season 3 (per Kripke in issue 8 of SPN Mag), or to have gone darkside in order to free Dean from Hell, than what is happening now. I got why he was exorcising the demons with his mind, it saved the person and was still exorcising demons. I got that after "Criss Angel", when the magician did what was 'right' and his 'brother' died, that Sam wanted to get his powers stronger, to find Lilith, and kill her, to protect Dean from her, from Lucifer, and from the whole end of the world thing. But this meanness? Calling Dean weak and having no compassion for his acts in Hell (which is a total turn around from his being in tears when Dean told him about it)? I don't get WHY he's going darkside this way now. It isn't clear enough.

That said, I really loved this episode! And one of the things I loved most about it was that, aside from a few mentions of Ruby and Lilith, it was demon and angel and end of the world crap-free!!!! UGH, getting so tired of that shit! I really really hope they wrap it all up, THEN get renewed, and we have a season five that is as close in spirit, feeling and intent to season one as possible!

PLEASE!

Jared at New York Comic Con

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:53:59 GMT

By now I'm sure you all know that Jared will be at the New York Comic Con on Saturday February 7th.

I can't go, unfortunately, but I have an idea for those of you who can.

Wear a black armband for Kim. I think it might help Jared to know that we (his fans, Supernatural fans, Kim fans) are mourning Kim too.

You could make an armband from almost anything, just throw a black scrunchi on if you want. If I were going though, I would probably buy some black ribbon and a paint pen. Write Kim's name, or 'We Miss You Kim', or something to indicate whom you are mourning and tie it on. Craftier people can probaly sew one. If anyone has button making capabilities you could make a button with Kim's pic, wrap the black material around your arm and secure it with the button. The bands are traditionally worn on the left arm midway between the shoulder and the elbow.

I have put myself in Jared's place to think how I would feel if this were to happen to me. For instance, if a good friend of mine died, and I went into a restaurant and a bunch of strangers were wearing armbands in mourning for my friend, I'd be touched.

So, if you think this is a good idea, please post it on your LJ, so fans who are actually going might see it, and decide if they'd like to do it or not.

I'm sorry to say this, but if you think this is a bad, idea, certainly do not post it, but also please do not post how lame or wrong headed you think it is either. I am really pretty upset about Kim's death and I can't handle ending up on some goddamed Fandom Secrets LJ to boot. The same with comments, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. Yes, I'm a little fragile right now which makes me a criticism pussy.

Now, on a similar note, from canadiangoddess, UPDATE FROM SUPERNATURAL SET **NO SPOILERS - THIS IS ABOUT KIM**

Kim Manners

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:07:36 GMT

I've been involved in the fandoms of many different shows, but I've never seen a Director/Executive Producer embraced by a fandom the way Kim was by the fans of Supernatural.

His humor, warmth and relationship with Jensen and Jared were present from the first time we saw him, in vids of the Paley Festival.

Then his presence on the DVDs, in commentaries, bonus features, and gag reels, his appearance at Comic Con, and the many fond references to him by both the actors and the creator made him an integral part of this fandom.

He became part of the fandom vernacular. "Kim" could only mean one Kim.

Everyone knows about the J2 vs. Kim prank wars. Everyone knows that Kim refused to wear a protective suit when filming the bee scene in "Bugs", because the boys couldn't wear them. Everyone knows that Kim directs the season premieres and finales. Everyone knows that Kim can run the set so that it's fun and familial, but also great work gets done.

Jensen and Jared have spoken of their respect for him as a director, and he has returned the compliments as well. We as fans admired his talent, how he tells a story, and what he can bring forth from his actors.

But also, he seemed like a really good guy.

All of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends, of course. We have sympathy for the enormity of their loss and their grief. Though we cannot possibly be as devastated, fandom mourns too. He was a part of our show. He was one of us. He will be sorely missed.

Kim Manners?!? What?!? He what? I don't - that isn't - JUST NO!

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:33:29 GMT

I can't believe it. I'm in shock. And tears. Oh my God!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Manners family, Kim's Supernatural family and the family of fandom. Kim Manners will be mourned deeply.

Eclipse Magazine
Television: Supernatural Fandom Mourns the Loss of Executive Producer/Director Kim Manners
January 27th, 2009
Posted by: M R Reed in Television
Monday January 26, 2009

In the early morning hours it began circulating as a rumor on German Supernatural discussion forums. By Mid afternoon it was confirmed as fact by a posting Supernatural actor Jim Beaver made on his Myspace Page.

“Jim is in mourning for one of the best friends and best directors he’s ever known–Kim Manners, who died last night from lung cancer.”

Then came this statement from the Publicist for Supernatural confirming the passing of Kim Manners:

“Supernatural” executive producer & director Kim Manners passed away last night in Los Angeles, following a battle with cancer.

Then a statement from Creator and Executive Producer Eric Kripke:

“Everyone at ‘Supernatural’ is walking around in a daze, shocked and absolutely devastated. Kim was a brilliant director; more than that, he was a mentor and friend. He was one of the patriarchs of the family, and we miss him desperately. He gave so much to ‘Supernatural,’ and everything we do on the show, now and forever, is in memory of him.

The soft spoken Kim Manners had been with Supernatural since the first season coming in as director of the season one’s 4th episode, “Dead in the Water”. Even though Manners went on to become an executive producer of the hit series, which stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as demon fighting, monster hunting brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, he continued to direct up until his illness hospitalized him in December of 2008. His last listed episodes as director is the season 4 episodes “Lazarus Rising” and his final one, “Metamorphosis”.

Kim Manners, who is the son of Cleveland Ohio born director/producer Sam Manners, was no stranger to the entertainment industry having been raised into it by being the son of such a well known and well respected industry professional. Manners, whose career began back in 1970 has spent over three decades in the entertainment industry working as an actor, producer and director and has worked on such highly successful projects as The X-Files, Baywatch and 21 Jump Street which starred a young and up and coming Johnny Depp.

Yet it was more than just three decades of entertainment industry experience that Kim Manners brought to Supernatural as a director and executive producer, by all accountings from cast and crew alike, Manners brought a sense of solid strength and good-nature to everyone involved with the series and to the set. Both series leads Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles love to relate their favorite story about how Manners playfully ‘got them back’ for the numerous pranks they played on him by waiting until both actors were trapped in a small tunnel like set in the season 2 episode ‘No Exit’ and poured a large bucket of cold water down on them.

Kim Manners could also be relied on by the cast and crew to be a practical problem solver as Jensen Ackles points out in a recent interview with the Official Supernatural Magazine. In the interview, Ackles relates how Manners took charge of figuring out how to get the actor, who was stranded at the LAX airport over the tail end of busy holiday because his seat was sold out from under him on an over booked flight, to the set of Supernatural in time to meet his set call and not lose the production money and time.

Kim Manners cared about Supernatural, it’s cast and crew. He took pride in his work and in being part of bringing the fans and viewers the best possible stories being told. It’s a given that all of those involved with the production of Supernatural are going to miss their co-work, friend and director/executive producer. Those of us out here in the fandom and media are going to miss Kim Manners as well.

We at EclipseMagazine.com send our prayers and condolences to the Manner’s family and to his ‘Supernatural family’ as well.

Kim Manners will be missed.

Google Groups - alt.obituaries by way of Kim's Super-wiki page
It is with extraordinarily heavy heart that I report the death last night, Jan. 25, of my friend Kim Manners. I first met Kim when he directed me in an episode of The X-Files, for which he was a major figure in the appeal of that show, its look, style, and movement. I thought, in that few days, that I had found one of the great directors I'd ever worked with, and a mensch of the first order. Little did I know.

Several years later, I ended up with a recurring role on Supernatural, where Kim was both an executive producer and a principal director. I have never had such fun working with a director, and Kim became a dear friend. He was the willing butt of the enormous humor on that set, most of it from the two leads, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, who delighted in tormenting him, and he was as good at giving it as taking it. He was an AMAZING director, who knew everything I can imagine a director might need or want to know about directing television. And he was one of the very best people, one of the very best friends, a person might ever want to have. His illness since the beginning of this, Supernatural's fourth season, has cast a pall over the show for months now, and every time I have appeared on the show this season, someone has broken down in tears in discussing Kim's health or how much we missed him.

I will go to my grave regretting the very real opportunities I missed in connecting with him these last few months. Take a lesson from one who let a dear friend down badly. My only excuse is that I, like all who knew him, never believed anything could take him down. I loved him dearly, and I hope he knows that.

"All right, now, KICK IT IN THE ASS! ACTION!!"
Rest in peace, chum.

Kim Manners Info
Kim's SuperWiki page
Kim's Wikipedia page
TV Guide.com Page

Interviews
Executive Producer Kim Manners talks Supernatural season 4
Kim Manners: The best of Manners
MeeVee Interview: On the Set with Supernatural Producer-Director Kim Manners - 4/3/07
Directing the X-Files
Kim Manners Q&A at Dallas Expo 1998

I made some icons. Please take anything you like.

Jared Padalecki's Eyes

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:46:56 GMT

I've posted these in two different places where a discussion of Jared's eye color came up. Now another one has begun at Supernatural TV, and I thought, rather than posting them in yet another thread, I'll post them on my LJ and I'll always have a link to refer people to!

Though they do often look green, I believe that Jared's eyes are hazel.

Hazel: A green-brown human iris displaying a brown center and a green edge. This type of iris, although special, is often also called hazel. . . In North America, "hazel" is often used to describe eyes that transmute color, ranging from oil lamp brown to green and even blue, depending on what color clothing the person is wearing or what color is predominant contained by their immediate environment.
Lasik Answer

Hazel eyes = vigorous, deep-thinking folk.
Superstitions and Old Wives Tales

Under the cut are many many pics of just Jared's eyes which show that they look many shades of green, but also brown, grey, and blueish. You might think that showing JUST the eyes looks a bit weird, but it's much easier to see the color this way than with posting the entire pics.

None of these have been altered by me, not even in their size. But I think Jared's eye color shows differently depending upon lighting, how large his pupil is (how close the flash is) and the surrounding colors.

You can see that Jared's iris is mostly a light green/grey/bluegreen, there is a darker line around the outside which seems to change widths, and an irregular amber ring around his pupils, which only seems to show in the largest pictures.

I've heard that in an interview Jared once said his eyes were green and that in another interview he said his eyes were hazel and in yet another he said he didn't know himself what color they were. But I haven't been able to find any of these interviews myself. If anyone can give me a link to an interview in which Jared says what color his eyes are, I'd appreciate it!

The shape of his eyes is a characteristic of his Polish heritage, and probably means that way way way way back there is a Turk or Mongol in his family tree (Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan).

YES WE CAN! YES WE DID! YES WE WILL!

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:06:25 GMT

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

I am so proud of this country today. I am so proud to be an American! And what I am happiest about, even though this is an historic event happening right now, is that children born this year, when they read about this inauguration in their Senior Government class, will not understand what a big deal this was! They will not be able to comprehend the kind of racial predjudice, hate and injustice that once existed here!
This isn't yet the end of racism, but I swear, it is in its death throes!

THIS is what they say about High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:30:37 GMT

Hey Gang!

In the author's notes of a fanfic I wrote a while ago, I said that High Fructose Corn Syrup was basically liquid death. Since then, the corn people have fought back with their patronizing little spots claiming that no one knows why HFCS is bad, which has been bugging me. An anonymous person left me a review today with their irritating little sound bite "has the same calories as sugar and honey, and is totally fine in moderation.". As a joke (I hope). Anyway, I had been thinking about posting this since I first saw one of those damn commercials and that review made me decide to go ahead and do it today, so thank you anonymous reviewer!

But HFCS is CHEAP! Cheaper than sugar, WAY cheaper than honey, and much easier to mix with other substances and that is why it is used, and will continue to be used unless people do something about it.

HFCS is BAD and should be OUTLAWED as a food additive. This is why -

Please read the entire articles, I'm only quoting the quick facts.

The Nutrition Reporter - Fructose: Maybe Not So Natural...and Not So Safe
"Fructose is not from fruit. It's a commercial, refined sugar"

"sucrose increased blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, insulin, and cortisol - all associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Sucrose also raised blood pressure and increased the fragility of blood platelet cells, making them more prone to clotting. . . .As dramatic as those findings were, the real surprise came when Yudkin substituted fructose for sucrose in his experiments. "The effects of eating sucrose in the quantities we eat are magnified with fructose. Fructose is the dangerous part," he said. In contrast, glucose did little more than cause cavities."

The Double Danger of
High Fructose Corn Syrup
"When the rats were fed fructose, the fatal organ abnormalities occured."

"Fructose seems to interfere with copper metabolism to such an extent that collagen and elastin cannot form in growing animals--hence the hypertrophy of the heart and liver in young males (rats). The females (rats) did not develop these abnormalities, but they resorbed their litters."

"Until the 1970s most of the sugar we ate came from sucrose derived from sugar beets or sugar cane. Then sugar from corn--corn syrup, fructose, dextrose, dextrine and especially high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)--began to gain popularity as a sweetener because it was much less expensive to produce. High fructose corn syrup can be manipulated to contain equal amounts of fructose and glucose, or up to 80 percent fructose and 20 percent glucose. Thus, with almost twice the fructose, HFCS delivers a double danger compared to sugar."

"Pure fructose contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals and robs the body of its micronutrient treasures in order to assimilate itself for physiological use. . . high fructose corn syrup contains a good deal of "free" or unbound fructose. . . free fructose interferes with the heart’s use of key minerals like magnesium, copper and chromium. . . . elevated blood cholesterol levels and the creation of blood clots. . . inhibit the action of white blood cells so that they are unable to defend the body against harmful foreign invaders."

The Murky World of High Fructose Corn Syrup
"complicated to make, involving vats of murky fermenting liquid, fungus and chemical tweaking, all of which take place in one of 16 chemical plants located in the Corn Belt."

What is Worse than Sugar? High Fructose Corn Syrup"
""high-fructose corn syrup" (HFCS) is making us fat."

"Research has shown that "high-fructose corn syrup" goes directly to the liver, releasing enzymes that instruct the body to then store fat!"

CBS News Investigates - Sweetener Controversy Grows
"Ads hyping high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) for its similarities to sugar are hitting the airwaves - part of a major marketing campaign from the Corn Refiners Association "

"CBS News has learned that funding for many of the major studies came from companies with a financial stake in the outcome.

Of the six studies CBS News looked at on the association’s Web site that “Confirm High Fructose Corn Syrup [is] No Different From Sugar,” three were sponsored by groups that stand to profit from research that promotes HFCS. . . . Pepsi funded one study, so did a D.C. based lobbying group that gets their money from food, chemical and drug companies. And the American Beverage Association gave a grant for another.

One researcher who was involved in three of the studies, Dr. James M. Rippe . . .
Rippe’s ties with industry are no secret. Pepsico, Tropicana and Quaker among others are all listed as Rippe Health Partners on his Web site along with this quote: “The RLI research team conducts multiple studies of mutual interest to RLI and PepsiCo North America in topics such as short-term energy regulation response to high fructose corn syrup…”

HealthMad - The Dangers of HFCS"
"When HFCS is ingested, it travels straight to the liver which turns the sugary liquid into fat, and unlike other carbohydrates HFCS does not cause the pancreas to produce insulin; which acts as a hunger quenching signal to the brain. So we get stuck in a vicious cycle, eating food that gets immediately stored as fat and never feeling full."

"HFCS is found in almost everything we eat today . . . Manufactures substitute HFCS for the fat in food like mayo and salad dressings, then mark them as diet foods."

"While shopping, read the labels, if HFCS, fructose, or modified corn starch appears within the first five ingredients place it back on the shelf an move on. Sounds easy right? Wrong. As you make your way through the store you will begin to realize just how much of what you have been eating on a daily basis contains HFCS."

Metabolic Danger of High-Fructose Corn Syrup By Dana Flavin, MS, MD, PHD
(I removed all endnote numbers from these quotes)
"Americans are being poisoned by a common additive present in a wide array of processed foods . . . This commonplace additive silently increases our risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. The name of this toxic additive is high-fructose corn syrup. It is so ubiquitous in processed foods and so over-consumed by the average American that many experts believe our nation faces the prospect of an epidemic of metabolic disease in the future, related in significant degree to excess consumption of high-fructose corn syrup."

"While regular table sugar (sucrose) is 50% fructose and 50% glucose, high-fructose corn syrup can contain up to 80% fructose and 20% glucose"

"Emerging research shows that excessive dietary fructose, largely from consumption of HFCS, represents “an important, but not well-appreciated dietary change,” which has “…rapidly become an important causative factor in the development of the metabolic syndrome,” a conglomeration of risk factors that greatly elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Other research suggests that high dietary fructose consumption contributes to obesity and insulin resistance, encourages kidney stone formation, promotes gout, and is contributing to an upsurge in cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Furthermore, high dietary fructose consumption is associated with increased production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are linked with the complications of diabetes and with the aging process itself."

"For the first time in history, humans are consuming fructose at extraordinarily high levels."

"Excess fructose contributes to hypertension by inhibiting a key enzyme called endothelial nitric oxide synthase, which is located in blood vessels walls and is essential for the production of the vasodilator, nitric oxide. By allowing healthy blood vessels to relax and ensuring smooth blood flow in vessels, nitric oxide is absolutely necessary for preventing hypertension, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction."

‘Sweet surprise’: the corn industry apparently doesn’t know what’s wrong with high fructose corn syrup. But I do.
"Americans consume high fructose corn syrup to the tune of a whopping 63 pounds a year"

"HFCS helps empty processed foods be exactly that — empty and processed, so they can sit on the shelves far longer than food actually should. Remember, if it doesn’t go bad, it ain’t good."

"For years, the low, low price of HFCS has allowed manufacturers to “add value” not by reducing prices (which decreases revenues, and makes shareholders go bananas), but by getting big, then bigger still, then gargantuan."

Baby and Kid Allergies - HFCS"
"With regards to food allergies and intolerances, high fructose corn syrup is a major factor in behavior and intolerant reactions in both children and adults today. . . . If your child is hyperactive, unable to focus or often tired, be sure to look at the ingredients of everything he or she eats. You may find that a significant decrease in high fructose corn syrup may cause a significant increase in good behavior."

Should You Boycott High Fructose Corn Syrup?
"From zero, the average consumption of HFCS in the U.S. has risen to over 60 pounds per person per year, on average, which means a lot of people must be eating well over 100 pounds."

"Starting in the early 1970’s, there has been a dramatic rise in the U.S. in the rate of obesity and its related ailments including type-2 diabetes and heart disease. This alarming development coincides almost exactly with the introduction and subsequent ramp-up of consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup. And in spite the denial of the food industry, the link is obvious"

"Such foods cause a spike in insulin production. Many experts agree that, over time, repeatedly eating foods in this pattern can cause insulin resistance, which in turn leads to diabetes."

"Amazingly, some HFCS injected products are literally endorsed by the American Heart Association and carry their seal of approval logo with the message, “Meets American Heart Association food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2.” Examples of this include Kellogg’s Smart Start cereals and Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain cereal bars."

"The more fructose you eat the more you want to eat period. Kids who get addicted to the fructose in the soda and candy they consume just can’t seem to get eat enough and the same goes for adults."

"sugar is addictive like cocaine whereas fructose is addictive like crack. They are both horrible, but the latter hooks you quicker, lets you down faster, and creates a greater craving."

"U.S. Congress have recently passed a bill making it illegal to sue a food company or restaurant for causing you to become obese or develop type-2 diabetes, a boycott is probably the only effective way consumers have to fight back.

Just simply don’t buy this stuff."

HFCS contributes to obesity, diabetes, erectile disfunction, hypertension, heart disease, behavior problems and God knows what else. Plus it's addictive. And it's almost impossible to buy anything that doesn't contain it, especially if, like me, you can't afford organic health food products. Write your representatives, and be careful out there! The grocery store is just as dangerous as McDonalds these days.

SPN - Family Remains

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:35:05 GMT

PLOT HOLES! GET YER RED HOT PLOT HOLES!

1. Why the hell did this guy feed these kids? Why not just let them die if he was so ashamed? Why did he give them clothes?

2. Why did he say "It's impossible?" What's impossible? If the maid heard them moving in the walls surely he did too. So he knew they were mobile. How hard would it be to get a knife from the kitchen while he was asleep? Impossible for her to come through the wall? Uh, not really. More like inevitable.

3. This family bought a house, 400 miles away, which they'd never even seen? And Mom wasn't even totally sold on the idea? They moved away from their son's grave?

4. Why the hell would the maid have pictures of the bitter old man she cleaned for and his wife, whom she'd never met, and his daughter, who killed herself before the maid ever worked there?

5. Why does Danny not totally freak out when he sees Beetlejuice girl? It's not like she's pleasant to look at.

6. Ummmm "GO"?? How did the twins learn to write, much less spell????? Also, the parents were in the room right outside the wall that was written on, and it took a lot of scribbling to put that up there, wouldn't they have heard the crayon scratching on the wall? Also, Wall Girl told Danny that she hates grown-ups but he could stay? So she can speak? Or he got all that through knife gestures and screaming?

7. Why the hell did they kill the dog? If they wanted Danny to stay why not the dog? I guess we're supposed to think that they knew that killing the dog would scare the family. But wouldn't they have needed some kind of socialization to make that connection? Why not just kill the family? And "too late"? Creepy Daddy Grampa was homeschooling them in the cellar? WTF?

8. How the hell did they get into the Impala's trunk? How did they get into the Impala's trunk, that fast, without making any noise, and not leave a scratch on it? How would they know that they should open the Impala's trunk, were they looking for weapons? How would they know to do that? How would they know what guns were, and that they needed to take them and hide them?

9. I don't think there would be spaces between the walls thick enough for people to walk through. Sam had enough time to read Rebecca's diary?

10. Why the hell hide the family in a rickety old shed? Put them in the back of the moving truck, for God's sake! They already moved out several boxes and at least two beds, there has to be enough room!

Okay, what I did like? Sam and Dean! Especially sleeping in the Impala at the beginning, and Dean's revelation at the end. BUT, was he saying that the more he tortured, the more the pain lessened? Also, why did they have to stop under an overpass and get out of the car to eat sandwiches?

Anyway, the next one looks good.

P.S. Kripke, no more killing dogs!

Ken Tucker wants to know why we dig Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles so much in Supernatural!

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:25:51 GMT

Entertainment Weekly.com

Ken Tucker's WATCHING TV
Primetime last night, tonight and tomorrow
TV News and Reviews

My New Year's TV Resolutions
Jan 1, 2009, 09:45 AM
by Ken Tucker

Happy new year. For 2009, I resolve to:

1. Get to the bottom of this 'Supernatural' business. So many of you, as I scan EW.com, are into this show, I have clearly been missing something. So I'm gonna watch a batch of this season's already aired episodes, and you'll explain to me why you dig Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles so much in this series, right?

ABSOLUTELY! Go to http://watching-tv.ew.com/2009/01/my-new-years-tv.html and tell him! And do please spread the word! We must convert Ken!

My Wish List

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:15:39 GMT

You've seen these, you know the drill.

Step One

- Post your 10 holiday wishes to your LJ. The post can be public, friends locked, filtered or whatever you're comfortable with. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related ("I'd love a fandom icon that's just for me") to slightly more complicated ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to WOAH! ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is to be certain these wishes are things you really, truly want.

- If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.

- Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two

- Surf your friends list (or friends' friends lists, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list and read them. And now here's the important part:

- If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure. Maybe someone is desperately wanting something that you have and are tired of or not too attached to. You may be able to do something for someone that benefits you both.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.

There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

My price range is $0.00 to $5.42. Mostly fandom-related.

I've estimated the cost of each item. I've tried to overestimate postage, and prices when I wasn't sure.

1. Click the big purple button that says "Click Here to Give - it's FREE!" at The Animal Rescue Site.
Just click once it will take you to a 'Thank you and here are our sponsors page', and you're done! It's free but your time and effort are priceless!.

2. A DVD to DVD copy of Dark Angel episode 1.16 "Pollo Loco".
Someone was sweet enought to copy ALL of season 2 for me, so I have all of the Jensen as Alec episodes. But I forgot to ask for this one, the Jensen as Ben episode. I ask for a DVD to DVD copy because my DVD player won't play .avi, .flv and many other types of files.
The cost of the DVD, $0.08. The cost of a mailing envelope, $0.75. Postage in the US, $1.68. Your time and effort - priceless!

~~3. A copy of vids of the Breakfast, Jensen's Q&A, Jared's Q&A, anything else with Jared and/or Jensen and Samantha Smith's Q&A from Salute to Supernatural - Chicago 2008 on a CD.~~
I'm on dial-up and it takes me around 10 minutes to download one minute of video. So you can see how long it would take me to download all of these. And I need it on a CD because my computer won't play DVDs.
The cost of the CD, $0.03. The cost of a mailing envelope, $0.75. Postage in the US, $1.68. Your time and effort - priceless!
Thank you agt_spooky!

4. A DVD to DVD copy of ER 7.10 "Piece of Mind".
I've seen this on YouTube, but I've missed the re-run THREE times and I'd really like to see it on a TV screen. I ask for a DVD to DVD copy because my DVD player won't play .avi, .flv. and many other types of files.
The cost of the DVD, $0.08. The cost of a mailing envelope, $0.75. Postage in the US, $1.68. Your time and effort - priceless!

5. A DVD to DVD copy of Ten-Inch Hero, or a copy of .avi files on a CD.
Again, my DVD player won't play .avi files and my computer won't play DVDs.
DVD, mailing and postage, $2.51. Your time and effort - priceless!
CD, mailing and postage, $2.46. Your time and effort - priceless!

6. A DVD to DVD copy of all of the appearances of April Nardini on Gilmore Girls.
6.9 "The Prodigal Daughter Returns", 6.12 "Just Like Gwen and Gavin", 6.13 "Friday Night's Alright for Fighting", 6.18 "The Real Paul Anka", 6.20 "Super Cool Party People", 7.4 "'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous", 7.6 "Go Bulldogs", 7.8 "Introducing Lorelai Planetarium", 7.9 "Knit, People, Knit!", 7.11 "Santa's Secret Stuff", 7.16 "Will You Be My Lorelai Gilmore?", 7.18 "Hay Bale Maze", 7.20 "Lorelai? Lorelai?"
The entire episode or just the April parts, whichever is easiest. I'd like to use these as reserch for my Taken In 'verse and I only have seasons 1-5.
4 DVDs, $0.32. Mailing envelope, $1.50. Postage in the US, $2.02. Your time and effort - priceless!
(These are major overestimates. I don't know that you'll need 4 CDs, and you can probably fit them all in one envelope. And since I don't know what the weight would be I can't calculate the postage, $2.02 covers up to 8oz.)

7. A CD copy or mix CD of your favorite Christmas music with a playlist.
I collect Christmas music. I include 'with playlist' because my brother sent me a CD 2 years ago which said "Xmas 2006" and that's it! *LOL* I'd like to use some of the songs to make mix tapes for my niece and nephews, but I don't know what they are!
CD, $0.03. Mailing envelope, $0.75. Postage in the US, $1.68. Your time and effort - priceless!

8. From "The Sentinel" fandom, a copy of the video for "The Man Song" on DVD.
Whatever kind of files videos usually are, my DVD player can play those. If you'd like to include any other videos, please do. My fandoms are The Sentinel, Supernatural, Lord of the Rings, Stargate: SG1, Invisible Man, Jared Padalecki, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean.
DVD, mailing and postage, $2.51. Your time and effort - priceless!

9. Send me a Holiday Card.
We don't have the money to buy and post cards, but we love getting them! (Selfish, I know!) Whatever holiday you celebrate is wonderful! Please include your online or LJ name. Or if you wish to remain anonymous, please put my LJ name (Dairwendan) inside so I know it's from one of you and not some unknown neighbor or relative!
Card price, your choice. Postage in US, $0.42. Your time and effort - priceless!

10. A $5.00 donation in our family's name to Helping Paws Pet Haven.
Helping Paws is a wonderful, cageless, no-kill shelter. It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen! You walk in and there are just cats laying around on couches or beds or pillows! Or chasing each other or playing with toys. Or coming up to you to be petted and made over! NO CAGES! They have a building for cats waiting for adoption and a building to house cats which, due to their personalities, age, or medical conditions, cannot be adopted. They are a very tiny, non-profit organization, with no paid employees, which runs excusively on donations and volunteers. They helped us out last year by taking in my sister-in-law's cats after she dumped them on me, and they didn't get along with our cats. We've tried to send them something every month. First it was $20, then we had some finacial trouble and it went to $10, then a car broke down and it went to $5. Hubby just recently had throat sugery and has been off work, so we haven't been able to send them anything at all in months. I'm asking you to donate in our names so that they know we haven't forgotten them.

If you can, please go to their donation page, and click the donation button to donate through PayPal. If you would, in the message put "Donated in name of Alix & Casey Thomas-Jones".

Or
Send a $5.00 check (or money order) to -
Helping Paws Pet Haven & Adoption Center, Inc.
PO Box 5261
Huntington, IN 46750-5261
In the memo portion of the check please put "Donated in name of Alix & Casey Thomas-Jones"

Or
If you'd prefer to donate in your own name, that's wonderful, please do so!

Paypal, $5.00. Your time and effort - priceless!
Check or money order - $5.00. Postage in US, $0.42. Your time and effort - priceless!

Thanks so much for reading through this! Whether you can help or not, I do appreciate your interest! Blessings on your head!

If you need my address, please email me at dairwendan@yahoo.com

Thank you with all my heart!

Yes, this is the end. I didn't ask for Jared Padalecki. Are you shocked?! I can't take him away from Jensen! Oh Damn! I should have asked for them both!

Other Wish Lists You Could Check Out

agt_spooky's Wish List (public)

shadow_of_doubt's Wish List (flocked)

deanvica23's Wish List (public)

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Christmas Cottage Reviews III

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:31:08 GMT

Film.com - Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage: Bringing Cookie Tin Paintings To Your TV Screen
Dawn Taylor
Nov 19, 2008

Do not underestimate the powers of Thomas Kinkade, the "Painter of Light." Sure, you may think that he's just a mediocre artist who sells overpriced motel-quality paintings at mall shops across the nation. But really, he's a sinister mastermind with powers of persuasion beyond mortal ken. Otherwise, how on earth could he have gotten world-class actors such as Peter O'Toole and Marcia Gay Harden to appear in his self-produced, marketing-savvy vanity project, Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage?

The 2008 semi-autobiographical, straight-to-video movie was originally titled Thomas Kinkade's Home for Christmas, but perhaps someone pointed out the grammatical awkwardness of the title, which makes it sound like Kinkade has, in fact, arrived home for the holidays, thus challenging us to care about that fact. The new title, Christmas Cottage, ties the film to one of his paintings (in an interview included on the DVD, the artist claims that the painting was the inspiration for the film from the beginning, but it's sold as a "new work" through his galleries), while making it sound less like an informative statement.

The cottage in question is more of a house, really, but as Kinkade probably didn't have a painting called "Christmas House" in his catalog, it's imperative that everyone in the film refer to it repeatedly as a cottage. In the movie, it's the childhood home of Thomas (Supernatural's Jared Padalecki) and his brother, Pat (Smallville's Aaron Ashmore). And it is, indeed, a lovely little home. But honestly? It's not so much a cottage. It's a house.

Their divorced mother, Maryann (Harden) welcomes the boys home for Christmas vacation with the announcement that, while they've been away at college, she's mismanaged the family finances to such an extent that the bank is about to foreclose. The family needs $3,000 by New Year's Day, so both young men immediately head out to get jobs. Thomas, an art student, agrees to finish an enormous, outdoor mural of the town for $500, which only proves that the apple doesn't far from the tree in this family where money is concerned. Or maybe he just figures his brother will make up the difference.

Kinkade's real-life home town of Placerville, California is depicted as the sort of adorably quirky hamlet that are often the settings for movies like this, with recognizable character actors appearing as local denizens. Richard Moll is an electrician who hires Pat, although he only seems to spend time setting up a highly competitive front-yard Christmas display. Chris Elliott, wearing a brown version of his curly Cabin Boy wig, is the smarmy head of the local Chamber of Commerce. And TV veteran Richard Burgi is Thomas' alcoholic, ne'er-do-well father, who we're supposed to dislike upon sight because, after all, he divorced Kinkade's sainted mother. To ensure that we grasp his badness, the script has him arrive for Christmas with his several boxes of old girly magazines in the trunk of his battered car, intended as gifts for his sons. Oooh, distasteful! We also know he's bad because he has a mustache.

Then there's Peter O'Toole. The 76-year-old actor plays Glen Wessler, an accomplished artist in the early stages of Alzheimer's who mentors Kinkade. While it's nice to see O'Toole is still alive and working, this movie doesn't serve him well. The actor falls back on his tendency to chew scenery, admirably memorizing a few fairly long pieces of dialogue and then delivering them with the force of Claudius beating his breast over the murder of Hamlet's father. The longest comes after Thomas reluctantly admits to painting "this ridiculous Christmas mural of Placerville":

Ridiculous ... a mural of Placerville. It's your chance to illuminate where you live, to inspire your neighbors! Do you think because they aren't sophisticated, they don't deserve your best art? That mural can record the people you love for posterity, and change the way they see themselves! Art crosses all borders, surpasses all languages. It's a place where we are one family, and if you're willing, really to see with your eyes and your heart, one image can change lives! You can introduce men to their souls! You can bring that to this town. You have that power!

Immediately following this speech, Wessler starts babbling and reciting "Humpty Dumpty," with O'Toole widening his eyes in a terrifying, sepulchral stare to indicate that he's in the throes of dementia. This is supposed to be sad, but really puts his advice into perspective, like the moment when O'Toole all but screams, "Paint the light, Thomas! PAINT THE LIGHT!" in a manner more horror-film than Hallmark moment. If this film is to be believed, Kinkade's entire career was inspired by the rantings of a senile old man. This actually makes a sort of twisted sense, when you think about it.

Overall, the movie is inoffensive, but is simply lacking anything substantive. Moments that are supposed to be funny, like the inevitable church Christmas pageant that goes awry, are directed without a real understanding of comedy, so the whole thing falls flat. Scenes which are meant to be heartwarming simply feel manipulative, and ineffectively so. There's surprisingly little Christian material here, considering Kinkade's fan base, but characters do mention God in an off-hand manner now and then, as if these remarks were penciled into the script at the last minute as a sop to the church folk. But overall, it's not unwatchable. It's just not especially interesting.

Christmas Cottage is mostly fascinating as a piece of commerce from Kinkade's art factory, which has imprinted greeting cards, cookie tins, collector's plates, calendars, clocks, and music boxes, along with the odd, textured prints-that-kind-of-look-like-paintings-if-you-squint that sell for upwards of $1,000 a piece in franchised mall galleries. Here, Kinkade not only finds a new way to shill his products, he manages to cash in on the seasonal craze for those tiny ceramic Christmas villages by renaming his film to suit. Like everything else he does, it may not be good art, but it's savvy salesmanship.

As for his actual art, perhaps the best description of his work comes from Joan Didion, who wrote in her book Where I Was From, "A Kinkade painting was typically rendered in slightly surreal pastels. It typically featured a cottage or a house of such insistent coziness as to seem actually sinister, suggestive of a trap designed to attract Hansel and Gretel. Every window was lit, to lurid effect, as if the interior of the structure might be on fire."

This look was applied liberally to the film -- it is, after all, a "Thomas Kinkade movie" -- and Kinkade made sure that the filmmakers knew what that meant. The website Vanity Fair Daily, in a recent piece called "Thomas Kinkade's 16 Guidelines for Making Stuff Suck," printed the entirety of a memo sent to the production crew by Kinkade to ensure that the visuals would reflect his artistic vision. Short depth of focus, darkish edges, paths to nowhere in particular, and cutesy hidden details are among his strictures, plus he bizarrely references Stanley Kubrick twice as an influence.

In his memo, Kinkade also insisted that they stress the "[m]ost important concept of all -- THE CONCEPT OF LOVE. Perhaps we could make large posters that simply say 'Love this movie' and post them about." Somewhere between Chris Elliott's wig and Peter O'Toole's scary old-man faces, the concept of love may have gotten lost. But that house? They made it look almost like a cottage.

Lionsgate's Christmas Cottage DVD (official site) offers a solid 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The Dolby 5.1 surround audio is good, as well. Extras include a commentary track with Thomas Kinkade and director Michael Campus, some deleted scenes with optional commentary, a making-of featurette titles Building the Christmas Cottage, an interview with Kinkade, and interviews with the cast about their fondest Christmas memories.

Dawn Taylor is more of a Halloween person.

Vanity Fair

Thomas Kinkade's 16 Guidelines for Making Stuff Suck
by Paul Cullum
November 14, 2008, 4:53 PM

Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light™, extends his purview to motion pictures with this week’s release of Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage, an inspirational holiday pastiche based on one of his paintings. Produced by Lionsgate, the film stars Peter O’Toole and Marcia Gay Harden. But not even a name cast could stop it from being unceremoniously dumped to home video a year after its planned release.

One reason might be that Kinkade, a postmodern Norman Rockwell for the evangelist set, instructed the crew to adhere to an aesthetic code that wouldn’t have flown in a first-year film class. The list of 16 “guidelines” on how to create “The Thomas Kinkade Look” on film, which was circulated to crew members in memo form, has been obtained exclusively by VF Daily. (The whole memo can be found at the end of this post.)

The art world has never exactly embraced Kinkade, though in the last 16 years his company and its partners have reportedly made more than $4 billion selling his signature renderings of idyllic settings, which employ diffuse light sources, aggressive pastels, and a domineering religious worldview.

“Putting Thomas Kinkade in an art-historical context is like trying to put Jack Chick in the context of the illustrated comic strip,” says Peter Frank, associate editor of The Magazine Los Angeles and senior curator at the Riverside Art Museum. “In the age of Photoshop, anybody can do this kind of crap.”

In 2006, the Artist Formally Known for Prints was successfully sued by two former gallery franchise owners, and a Los Angeles Times article from the same year accused him of drunkenly disrupting a Siegfried and Roy show in Las Vegas by repeatedly yelling, “Codpiece!” (The story prompted Kinkade to write his gallery owners a letter in which he admitted to behaving badly but also complained of “exaggerated, and in some cases outright fabricated personal accusations.")

In his memo to the film crew, Kinkade twice cites Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon as a working template and volunteers an idea for keeping spirits high during the shoot: “Perhaps we could make large posters that simply say ‘Love this movie’ and post them about.”

To get an expert opinion on Kinkade’s manifesto, I showed it to cinematographer Ellen Kuras, best known for her work with director Spike Lee. She points out that he confuses focal length and depth of field, and questions his overall approach.

“I’ve never seen any of his paintings, but I have to say, he’s very cheesy in his descriptions,” Kuras says. “The whole gauzy, cozy feeling, darkening the edges to make your vision more myopic, I think is about trying to draw the larger metaphor for the way to heaven. But reading all of this, it’s a prescription for a bad ’60s porn movie.”

In an official statement, Lionsgate responds, “Thomas Kinkade has an extremely large and loyal fan community throughout the country… This film is highly anticipated by Thomas Kinkade’s fans and a special gift for families to share timed to the holiday season.”

Here is the memo in its entirety:

Thomas Kinkade's The Christmas Cottage

The sixteen guidelines for creating the "The Thomas Kinkade Look".

1) Dodge corners or create darkening towards edge of image for "cozy" look. This may only apply to still imagery, but is useful where applicable.

2) Color key each scene to create mood, and color variation. When possible, utilize cooler tones to suggest somber moods, and warmer, more vibrant tones to suggest festive atmosphere. In general, create a color scheme for each scene that can be accentuated through filtering, DI treatments, or through lighting. Most of my paintings feature an overall cool color envelope, into which warm accents are applied.

3) Create classic compositions. Paintings generally utilize a theme and variation compositional motif. Heavy weighting of the image towards one side, with accented areas of interest balancing it on the other side. Allow the eye to wander into the scene through some entry point. Be aware of where the viewer is standing at all times. Utilize traditional eye levels for setting the shot -- that is, no high vantage points, off-kilter vantage points, or "worms eye view" vantage points. Generally focus on a standing adults viewpoint of the scene at hand.

4) Awareness of edges. Create an overall sense of soft edges, strive for a "Barry Lyndon" look. Star filters used sparingly, but an overall "gauzy" look preferable to hard edge realism.

5) Overall concept of light. Each scene should feature dramatic sources of soft light. Dappled light patches are always a positive, glowing windows, lightposts, and other romantic lighting touches will accentuate the overall effect of the theme of light.

6) Hidden details whenever possible, References to my children (from youngest to oldest as follows): Evie, Winsor, Chandler and Merritt. References to my anniversary date, the number 52, the number 82, and the number 5282 (for fun, notice how many times this appears in my major published works). Hidden N's throughout -- preferably thirty N's, commemorating one N for each year since the events happened.

7) Overall sense of stillness. Emphasize gentle camera moves, slow dissolves, and still camera shots. A sense of gradual pacing. Even quick cut-away shots can slightly dissolve.

8) Atmospheric effects. Whenever possible utilize sunset, sunrise, rainy days, mistiness -- any transitory effect of nature that bespeaks luminous coloration or a sense of softness.

9) A sense of space. My paintings feature both intimate spaces and dramatic deep space effects. We should strive for intimate scenes to be balanced by deeper establishing shots. (I know this particular one is self-evident, but I am reminded of it as I see the pacing of the depth of field in Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon".)

10) Short focal length. In general, I love a focal plane that favors the center of interest, and allows mid-distance and distant areas to remain blurry. Recommend "stopping down" to shorten focal lengths.

11) Hidden spaces. My paintings always feature trails that dissolve into mysterious areas, patches of light that lead the eye around corners, pathways, open gates, etc. The more we can feature these devices to lead the eye into mysterious spaces, the better.

12) Surprise details. Suggest a few "inside references" that are unique to this production. Small details that I can mention in interviews that stimulate second or third viewings -- for example, a "teddy bear mascot" for the movie that appears occasionally in shots. This is a fun process to pursue, and most movies I'm aware of normally have hidden "inside references". In the realm of fine art we refer to this as "second reading, third reading, etc." A still image attracts the viewer with an overall impact, then reveals smaller details upon further study.

13) Mood is supreme. Every decision made as to the visual look of each shot should include the concept of mood. Music can accentuate this, use of edges can accentuate this, atmospheric effects accentuate this, etc.

14) The concept of beauty. I get rid of the "ugly parts" in my paintings. It would be nice to utilize this concept as much as possible. Favor shots that feature older buildings, ramshackle, careworn structures and vehicles, and a general sense of homespun simplicity and reliance on beautiful settings.

15) Nostalgia. My paintings routinely blend timeframes. This is not only okay, but tends to create a more timeless look. Vintage cars (30's, 40's, 50's, 60's etc) can be featured along with 70's era cars. Older buildings are favorable. Avoid anything that looks contemporary -- shopping centers, contemporary storefronts, etc. Also, I prefer to avoid anything that is shiny. Our vintage vehicles, though often times are cherished by their owners and kept spic-n-span should be "dirtied up" a bit for the shoot. Placerville was and is a somewhat shabby place, and most vehicles, people, etc bear traces of dust, sawdust, and the remnants of country living. There are many dirt roads, muddy lanes, etc., and in general the place has a tumbled down, well-worn look.

16) Most important concept of all -- THE CONCEPT OF LOVE. Perhaps we could make large posters that simply say "Love this movie" and post them about. I pour a lot of love into each painting, and sense that our crew has a genuine affection for this project. This starts with Michael Campus as a Director who feels great love towards this project, and should filter down through the ranks. Remember: "Every scene is the best scene."

The list above is not all-inclusive, but is a good starting point for internal dialogue. These guidelines are not listed in order of importance, but are dictated off the top of my head. After painting for nearly 40 years, I still wake up every morning daydreaming about new ways to make paintings. Creating a movie is a natural extension of the picture making process, and hopefully my catalog of visual paintings, along with my visual guidelines in this memo will provoke dialogue, experimentation, and a sense of over-arching visual purpose.