She doesn't want to settle down.

I like this video. It makes me laugh

Star Wars -- by a 3-year-old.

I love this video...

What's wrong with the world today?

What's wrong with the world today?

It is the year 2011. Haven't we, as a society, learned to treat others better?

I found a youtube video by a very pretty young girl. She is talented. She made a unique youtube video and she tells about her struggles with kids who bully her.

I feel upset because I don't want this young girl to be picked on and I want to do something to help. I plan to donate money from my upcoming children's book, "building character: part 2" to some program that helps to teach respect and consideration to children and teens.

Yesterday, Jodee Blanco, presetned a training in West Virginia on bullying. I regret to say that I wasn't aware that Jodee was presenting this. I did read her previous book, "Please Stop Laughing at Me: One Woman's Inspirational True Story" several years ago. Jodee explains how she was tormented by kids at her school in this book.

Jodee has recently released a new book: Please Stop Laughing at Us . . .: One Survivor's Extraordinary Quest to Prevent School Bullying.

Okay, here is that video of a teen that I was telling you about:



Here is a neat reply that I found, too:



I teach a violence prevention program for teens. It has three main parts: 1.) empathy training, 2.) impulse control, and 3.) non-violent problem-solving skills. This is a program created by SecondStep.

I'm always on the look out for books that can help teens since this is the population that I provide services for.

Here are a few...

The U.S. Presidents -- and their doctrines.

I like to study U.S. Presidents. Here is an interesting article at CNN on presidential doctrines: http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/29/presidential.doctrines/index.html?hpt=C2

The Hunger Games (The Movie) -- Mockingjay

Suzanne Collins has taken me on an amazing adventure in the dystopia future in her trilogy the hunger games. These books include:

• Book 1: The Hunger Games


• Book 2: Catching Fire


• Book 3: Mockingjay

It is going to be a movie! I think the release date is March 2012. One year from now.

Here is a summary of the book:

The country of Panem is located in North America. It is what is left after world destruction. The country is made up of 13 districts and a capitol. The 13th district is said to be have been destroyed by the capitol for defiance. The other 12 districts must also pay for the defiance of the people.

The capitol has their annual hunger games. It is a television show. Two children from each of the 12 districts are selected to participate. In this show, the 24 total contestants fight to kill off the others. The last person living is the winner.

Katniss is the main character in the series. Her younger sister Prim was selected as the female from her district for the 74th hunger games. Katniss volunteers to take her place in the hunger games, which is allowed.

Peeta is selected as the male winner from the 12th district. Surprisingly, Peeta reveals that he is in love with Katniss. The bad news is that two people can’t win the hunger games and they’re both in it. I don’t want to say anything else about the books. The basics of what I’ve said above take place in the first book. I’m currently reading book # 3. There is going to be a movie about this book or at least those are the rumors I’ve read online. You can get the books: Here is a book trailer:

31 Today.

Thirty-one (31) -years-old today! I like to think that if I could start over from day one that I’d do some things differently, but I’m afraid I’d probably do all the same things over again exactly the same way I did it the first time. It is a reminder of the age-old question: are we victims of fate or do we have the power to create our own destiny?

I went to pick my mother up a sausage biscuit and orange juice from McDonald’s this morning. I picked up a plain biscuit for myself and a large coffee. I had planned to take a different route home to show I have power to create my own destiny. I forgot. I do plan to do something different or unique in the next few days. Go to a new store. Take a different road home. I'm not sure yet. I want to have that delusion of free will and control.

My father worked until noon today. He is a school principal and their school is having super Saturday learning for students.

I met up with my brother Jimmy to watch the movie, “Sucker Punch,” around 12:30. My dad went home to rest during this time. I enjoy the movie all right. My brother Jimmy said he plans to get it on blue ray. My sister Carrie and her boyfriend Matt went to this movie, too. They didn’t enjoy it so much.

I had my favorite Chick-fil-A with Carrie and Matt after the movie.
My brother, his wife, Emily, and my favorite (and only) nephew Gage met us at my parent’s house for the party.

I feel that I have a lot to be grateful for. I’m very fortunate to have lived 31 years. I am in pretty
good health. I don’t need glasses at this time. I’m lucky I can see, hear, walk, drive, and do so many things. I’m lucky that I have good family, friends, and a job that I love. I’m fortunate to be an American. I really have everything I could possible need.

I received 99 facebook comments to wish me happy birthday from family, friends, and others.

I received a few personal facebook emails too.

My parents decided to get me a Cookie-cake from the Great-American Cookie Company (it has a picture of a book on it) and a Chocolate cake with icing from Kroger’s and (vanilla/ strawberry/ chocolate) ice cream.

I gave my nephew Gage (4-year-old) a picture book. It is called, “I love you because you’re you.” It has pictures of a momma fox and a little boy fox. It rhymes. I have given Gage at least one book per month since January (2010). Today was a good day to bring his March book to him. My parents, sister, and brother all live in Beckley, W.Va. I live two hours away in Huntington, W.Va.

My good family gave me a lot of gifts. I’m happy with them. I have some mix feelings. I told my father that I felt guilty for getting so many nice things.
I got jeans, two polo-shirts, an amazon.com gift card, a book (the lost or forgotten states of America), and five West Virginia scratch-off lotto tickets. I won $1.

My sister and Matt gave me two AE t-Shirts.

My brother and his wife gave me a graphic novel and a comic book.

I won’t be spending the $25 Amazon gift card anytime soon because I already have a stack of books to read. I’m currently reading The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. I love this series.

Yours,
Danny.

Letting the days go by

I love a lot from the 80s. I was born in 1980.

I sign when I realize the 80s are gone. The 90s are gone. 2000-2010 are gone.

The lyrics or the words bieng read in the Talking Heads song, "letting the days go by" comes to mind from time to time.

Here is the video for you to enjoy.

Daredevil Movie!

Okay, I admit that I am a super-hero geek.
I hate to use that word, "geek."
Geek was once thought of as a bad word.

Today, "geek" seems to be a "cool" word.

People with the most "geek stuff" are cool. Or, at least if the "geek stuff" has a lot of high technology.

Here is an example: I'm taking some graduate courses on the weekend. I like to say I "Geek-it-out" because I'm the only person who uses a kindle for all of my text books. By the way, the bookbags look really heavy.

I'm not sure if being a super-hero geek is a good thing or not. (laugh aloud). But I love all of them: Bat Man, X-Men, Watchmen, Kick-A, Iron Man, Superman, Spider Man, Hulk, Fantastic 4, Sky High, The incredibles, TMNT, and so many more.

I have this theory that deep down, we all want to be a hero. In general, people love a hero. I don't hear many people say they want to be "the bad guy" when they grow up.


Do you want to know who my favorite super-hero is?
"The Daredevil (DD)." I like that he is "blind," yet he has super powers.
Of course, I was a big fan of the first DD movie with Ben A. and Jennifer Garner.
I love Jennifer Garner. She seems so down to Earth. Jennifer is from my home state "West Virginia," so many of us here love her.

I hope they can get Jennifer Garner to play Electra in the DD reboot.

Here is info on the upcoming movie:

http://screenrant.com/david-slade-daredevil-reboot-sandy-106128

X-Men Movie -- I can't wait!

I am getting excited about the upcoming X-Men Movie!

Here is an international trailer for the movie.

I don't know what they're saying. I hope it is safe content. and not a secret message that shares hate or destruction.

I feel confident that it is about the movie.

I love the extra scenes that are shown here. Enjoy.

Childhood Memories about a movie.

What are some of your earliest memories?

How far back can you remember?

I remembered watching a movie on television when I was younger.

It featured a flying boat with a lot of people who were elderly.

I’d reflect back on this movie and thought the boat was taking these people on up to heaven.

I can remember being tearful. I didn’t want them to leave Earth.

I’ve thought about this movie from time to time and decided to do a Google search and I discovered it was a real movie called, “Cacoon.” Of course my memory of the movie was a little foggy from what the movie was really about. I decided to go ahead and rent a copy of it and watch it.

I recall the boat in the movie being a lot larger. However, the movie was about aliens.

The movie was released in 1985. I’d imagine it made it to television about a year or two later in 1986 or 1987. I would have been either 6 or 7 years old at the time. This was the only time I believe I had ever watched the movie and I could only recall the one scene – a flying boat. I’m pretty sure I had dreamed about that scene in the movie a few times too because it had had such an impact on me.

As a child, I believed that was how people died. I thought they put “old folks” on a boat and it was lifted into the sky – or heaven. I was pretty fortunate in that I didn’t know anyone to pass away until 2000 when I was 20-years-old. The only grandfather who I had ever known had passed away. The two grandmothers who I had known passed away in the following years.

On a self-reflection note, I’ve always felt passionate about people and their feelings. I’ve always considered myself to be quite emotional (for a guy). I’d worry a lot about people.
Back to the movie, I rented it and watched it. It was a lot different from my memories as I had said above.

Here is the story line:

Aliens come to Earth to get their “Cocoons.” These are people they had left behind many many years ago (in Atlantis). Now, their cocoons were underwater (since Atlantis had flooded). The aliens go underwater to get the coccons to save their people. They leave the cocoons in a pool near a retirement center/ nursing home area. Several of the residents swim in the pool. The pool is rejuvenating. They start to feel younger and act younger. The cocoons are giving them life.

On a different note - I have a strong background in Recreation. I enjoyed seeing how this retirement center had opportunities for recreation for the residents. They played cards and games, went swimming, ate together in the dining room, went dancing. I think keeping active and participating in meaningful activities keeps a person young. The word “Recreation” can be broken down into two parts: “Re-Creation.”

Back to the movie:
One of the cocoon-aliens die. The main alien had never felt the pain of death because their kind doesn’t die too often. The main alien tells one of the main residents at the nursing home that he had never known anyone to pass away. The alien has empathy for the humans and asks them to go to space with them where they can live forever.
I suppose as a young 6 or 7 year old I thought meant “going up to heave and living forever.”
The U.F.O. comes down and picks up a giant boat with aliens, the cocoons, and most of the residents from the nursing home.
I thought it was n interesting little sci-fi movie.
I was so young in the mid-80s. Watching this movie as an adult allowed me to be open to many other things like: the one resident in the movie who said “rejuvenation.” I wouldn’t have known the meaning of that word when I was in first grade. I didn’t understand death and dying then. I didn’t understand much.

Here is a youtube video for the movie:


Here is a link for the movie at Amazon:


I recall several movies about aliens being released in the 80s.
The U.S. Department of State Memorandum of Conversation reports that:
"Reagan said that while the General Secretary [Gorbachev] was speaking, he had been thinking of various problems being discussed at the talks. He said that previous to the General Secretary’s remarks, he had been telling Foreign Minister Shevardnadze (who was sitting to the President’s right) that if the people of the world were to find out that there was some alien life form that was going to attack the Earth approaching on Halley’s Comet, then that knowledge would unite all the peoples of the world."

I had read somewhere else where Reagan had asked Gorbachev if they’d help the U.S. if an alien attack happened and Gorbachev said, “Absolutely.” However, I regret to say I can’t find that source.


The popular 80s comic book series, “The Watchmen” had used a “fake alien attack” at the end of the book to end the Cold War.
There were other alien movies that I recall from the 80s like Batteries not included.
Here are some links for the books and movies I talked about above for you to review:

How to doodle.

My good friend Melissa showed me a really neat book by John M. Duggan.

Basically the book has incomplete doodle pictures and a person can complete them.

They have fun sayings like, “What are the robots building.” This picture shows robots on the outside and the book owner can complete the picture by drawing what the robots are creating.

Another one shows police on the left side of the picture. There is a robber or thief on the right side of the picture. The fun saying is, “What is he hiding behind?” The book owner can use her (or his) imagination to draw something. They could draw a tree, a giant rock. I drew a picture of a hot dog stand. I don’t even know why.

It is a super fun book.

I did a quick google search, but couldn’t find that book, but I was able to find two other books by the same creator, John M. Duggan. Here are the Amazon links for them:


Here are some other great doodle books that I discovered on Amazon. I’m going to get some of these for the children who I provide services for. These books could offer them an opportunity for creativity.
Here are the links:

Hunger Games (book review) and Soon to be movie!

I just finished reading “The Hunger Games” by Susan Collins and I love the book! It is the first book in a three part series.

In my own biased opinion, I give this book a 5-Star rating on a 0 to 5 scale with “5” being the best!

Of course, most people know that I love dystopia books!

This book is about a future North America.

And I found out from one of my good friends Mindy today that this book is going to be a movie.

I had read the book after several of my favorite bloggers had

How did I not know about that?

Here is a book trailer:


Here are the three books:


This here is the best deal. You’d be able to save $3.03 by getting all three books in this set:


Here is the video about the upcoming movie --


I wonder who’ll play the main character Katniss? I kind of hope Dakota Fanning gets it.
Here is a video with the scoop on who could play Katniss:

Here are the three books:


This here is the best deal. You’d be able to save $3.03 by getting all three books in this set:


 

The Final Alice (book review)

"'what is the use of a book,' thought Alice, 'without pictures or conversations?"
- Lewis Caroll

Are you a Lewis Carol fan?

Do you love Alice in Wonderland?

If so, I have some amazing news for you!

Alycia Ripley’s new book, “The Final Alice” is the first in a trilogy about the great-great- granddaughter of Alice.

It is a book about "good" vs. "evil."

So, are you ready to read it?

My question is. . .

How far down the rabbit hole do you plan to go?

Watch my video book review here:


You can get a copy of the Final Alice at this Amazon link below. Go ahead and download a copy to your kindle now while it is fresh on your mind or have a paperback copy sent to your front door.




And if you haven’t already done so, you can get Ripley’s first novel, “Traveling with an eggplant,” which I highly recommend.

Get it here:


For more information, check out her web-site:
http://www.alyciaripley.com/


I love this photo of Alycia:
http://www.alyciaripley.com/photos.asp

Read a Book

I found a great letter on the importance for reading books.

Read it here:

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/03/i-dare-you-all-test-your-strength-open.html?showComment=1299796130588#c7970541368526118772

If you haven't done so already -- read this self-improvement book:

Milk Carton Mikey (book review).

This book review is long overdue at my blog.

My good friend, D.C. Childs, “Chuck,” had written the novel, “Milk Carton Mikey.”

It was released in 2008.

Please note that I’ve added my own biased slant to this review because Chuck is also my cousin!

Chuck inspired me to write a book, too. I had written several spiral bound activity books in the past. But I decided I wanted to write what I’d call a “Real” book after Chuck had written his. Shortly thereafter, I had written my first self-improvement book for people: Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom.

But this review isn’t about my book.

It is about Chuck’s amazing book!

Here is my quick video book review that I had created a few weeks ago.




You can get this book on Amazon at the link below.

I hope you decide to get a copy or two today.

Buy one copy for yourself and one copy for a friend!

A fun picture book!

Daniel Edward's new book, "Mr. McFrawley's Traveling Show" is here!

Dan raised funds to self-publish this limited edition book using kickstarter.com.

His project inspired me to create my own kickstarter page to raise funds and create my book:
"building character with sam, izzy, and many other dogs book!"

Watch my youtube review of Dan's book here:



You can get your copy of the book at this link:

http://www.dsedwards.com/buy.html

Danica McKellar (Winnie Cooper) writes a math book!

I love Danica McKellar!

She played Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years. I've always loved her.

Danica is a Hollywood star, but I had no clue that she loves math. She is amazing. She created a book for teenage girls to help promote math!

Her book cover looks like the cover of a teen magazine.



Here are three of her books:

I am number four

I watched the movie, I am number 4, last night and I loved it.
Actually, I loved number 6 myself.
I’ve always loved X-men and this movie reminds me a little of X-Men.
My biggest regret is that I didn’t read the book first.
I’m certain I would have loved this book. I have so many books in my “to read” stack that I probably shouldn’t order a copy of it right now.
Here is a link for the book series:


Here is a trailer for the book:


I like the book trailer better than the movie trailer.

Here is a trailer for the movie:






Here is that link for the book again: