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Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Reading To Your Child
Reading To Your Child - It's Never Too Soon to Begin
By Laura Morris
Parents often ask me "how can I support my child as he learns to read?" I tell them there are several ways you can help your child. First and foremost, read to them! "When do we start reading to them?" It is never too early to begin reading to your child. In utero, a baby responds to its mother's voice. The cadence and timbre of your voice can calm and settle a baby. Once he is born his eyes will begin to associate your reading voice with the book in your hand. Know that as an infant, the content of what you are reading (it can be a work journal or a mystery novel) isn't important, it is the rhythm and tone of your voice that the child responds to. Simply read aloud the books, letters, and articles you are already reading.
As your child begins to reach out for books as you read and begins to babble, imitating your voice, you can encourage your child by getting basic picture books like Pat the Bunny and Good Night Moon that he can look at and enjoy. At older ages, let your children see you read. Children between the ages of two and five years of age look at the adults in their world as role models. They imitate your words and your actions.
Also, don’t limit your child’s reading experience. Read poems and literature to them. Poems offer an
almost musical quality to the written word. Some of Robert Frost’s poems have been beautifully illustrated and can be found in the children’s section at your library or book store. Literature is not just a story, but a story told in a certain style, crafted with carefully selected words. Children’s literature such as Charlotte’s Web or The Trumpet of the Swan by EB White captures the child and allows her to be transported into a different place or time, using the words of the author to paint a picture in her mind.
In my Montessori class, I love the mid day relaxing time in which I read a “chapter book” to the children. The first time I do this the children often say “Laura, you forgot to show the picture!” It is with this statement that the book is put aside as we create the images that are missing; I tell the children this book does not have many pictures and I ask them what it is they would like to see. In response, I get a description of the people and places created by the children. It is with their imagination that the story comes to life.
Children’s books have come a long way since many of us were children. I have many books to share with the children in my class, and the illustrations are beautiful and the content meaningful. The books you read with your child should support your child as he or she grows. Books on visiting the doctor’s office help a child know what to expect. Books can instill the social graces we wish our child to express. Jamie Lee Curtis has a series of books that deal with self esteem and self expression. Age appropriate books can be found that will help your child with toilet training, moving to a new home, or even understanding why Grandma is losing her memory. Children who have heard their favorite books hundreds of times often recite a book verbatim. They will exclaim “I’m reading!” Acknowledge them for this and let them know how much you admire someone who can read.
When a child is intrigued by books he naturally has the desire to learn the skills required to explore them on his own. It is vital that we follow the child’s lead and offer him the tools when he expresses this interest. Don’t make a child wait for an arbitrary time, such as the day in first grade when reading is taught, for them to learn to read. In my years teaching 2 to 6 year olds, I have had many children show a strong desire to learn to read and accomplish this task on their own time—often well before the scheduled date of a school curriculum! But in order for that to happen, the child must be encouraged and excited about the possibilities opened by reading!
Children are at a very young age, typically two or three years old, when they are most eager to develop their language by learning new words and expanding their communication skills. Because they are in the first steps of learning the language, it seems logical to offer the child the smallest unit of our language, the letter. When a child learns the sound that is associated with the letters his speech becomes clearer, he is better able to articulate and communicate. Soon, he learns how to build words, then phrases, then sentences. This first manifests itself through spoken language but with the right materials the child can follow this same path in a written format. Using the individual letters of a moveable alphabet, the child can take the first step—a single letter—and build on that to create words, phrases, and sentences.
Finally, after constructing his own words and sentences from the sounds he has learned he makes the next step to reading words that someone else has written. While the words a child can recognize by sight from a favorite book are helpful, and often the first “reading” a child does, the key to really learning to read is understanding the written language at the most basic level and building from there. Reading is an exchange between two humans, the writer and the reader. It is a gift that should be given to every child. We must take full advantage of the child’s interest in language that is so prevalent in the preschool child. It is never too soon to start enticing your child to read!
Laura Morris is the Director of Education at Hopewell Montessori School in Acworth, Georgia. She has taught in an AMI Montessori school for sixteen years. She has spoken nationally and internationally on the topics of parenting and early childhood education. Please visit http://www.hopewellmontessori.com for more information and a list of her favorite children's books!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Morris
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Starting A Home Based Business
Tips For Starting a Successful Home Based Business
If your goal is starting and building a successful home based business, read on. Over the last 5 1/2 years of working full-time from home, I've learned many lessons and in this brief article I'm going to share some of the most important ones with you. Hopefully by the time you're done reading this, you'll have picked up a few things that you can apply to your home business and will make more money as a result.
One of the most important factors to becoming successful with a home based business is to choose the right opportunity. I see many work from home hopefuls who fail because they choose a business vehicle that is flawed, or simply doesn't work. In my opinion, the best work at home businesses offer you the ability to work from anywhere in the world (with your laptop and an Internet connection), have a proven blueprint or "system" laid out for success, and give you the ability to leverage your time and build a substantial residual income.
Another thing that is vital to your home business success is focus. As entrepreneurs, we're born with a short attention span and it's easy for all of us to get distracted by other opportunities. If you've found something that works, put the blinders on and build it full-steam ahead. The individuals who constantly skip around might make a couple bucks, but they'll never realize their full potential.
Lastly, seek out a mentor. The most successful people are sometimes difficult to reach, but going out of your way to track them down can pay off in a big way. If they sell products, consider buying a few of them and becoming their customer... it's much easier to approach a well-known, highly successful individual for advice if you're already a customer of theirs.
Hopefully this short article has given you some good ideas for building a successful home based business. While not always easy, working from home has been the most rewarding experience of my life and not a day goes by that I take it for granted.
About Author
Discover how a lazy surf bum cracked the $100K a month code with The Reverse Funnel System at http://www.ReverseFunnelSecret.com today. Also, check out The Reverse Funnel System blog.
Source: ArticleTrader.com
Keeping Your Cats Happy
Keeping Your Cats Happy And Loving
By Nicholas Hunt
Cats can be very loving animals if treated correctly. They can also get angry, pout, play and generally get along with everyone. But if you aren't paying attention, they can also get lonely. Here are some tips to keep your cat happy:
1. Toys: Replace old toys every so often with new ones. I keep a box of cat toys in the corner, and when my cats want to play they will pull one out and play with it. After awhile, I will notice the box is not touched and that is my sign to go out and get new ones. I try to get a wide variety for them, from mice and fuzzy toys, to toys that move on their own. This keeps them active and playing.
2. Catnip: Some cats go crazy over catnip and will roll around in it for hours. Buy a toy or mat that has catnip in it, or sprinkle some on a scratching pad. They will love you for it as they are covered in catnip and happily meowing.
3. Canned Food: If your cats can handle it, give them a treat every so often of canned food. It doesn't have to be the whole can, you can do 1/4 of a can, just a little to give them a nice change. If they aren't able to stomach canned food, try giving them a little edible cat treat that you can find at a pet food or grocery store. Just one will do the trick and they will be happy.
4. Talk to them: Cats love to be talked to. Try doing some baby talk and see the kind of reaction you get from them. They will most likely roll around on their backs or meow at you.
5. Play with them: Pull out one of those new cat toys you bought and toss it to them for a little while. You might find that you enjoy playing with them as well, while strengthening your bond with your kitty.
6. Get them a companion: If you live in a one-cat household and find that you can't be home as often as you'd like, try getting them a buddy. Don't be surprised if they don't get along well at first; they will soon get used to each other and be inseparable.
7. Lastly, pet them and show them love. Cats can be affectionate and most of them love the attention of being petted. Spend a night hanging out with your cat and they will most likely open up to you and lay with you.
There's nothing like hearing the contented purr of your cat as they are lazily lounging around. Keep them happy by giving them lots of love and attention. Your cats will thank you for it.
Nicholas has advice on how to get the best pet insurance, and on how to get cheap quotes for pet insurance online, quickly and easily.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Hunt
http://EzineArticles.com/?Keeping-Your-Cats-Happy-And-Loving&id=1041098
Dog Training
Dog Training - 6 Things You Better Do When You Have A New Puppy In The House
By Andrew John Daniel
Taking on a brand-new puppy can be among the most exhilarating things that could come about to an individual or a family, but that precious little fur ball can as well cause a great deal of tension, particularly during the 1st couple of days of coming to his new household. If you've just took in a pup, there are some things you want to bear in mind to make certain that this novel add-on to your family grows up fit, happy and healthy. Below are 6 dog training tips you ought to know for the benefit of the newly-arrived puppy:
1. Provide your brand-new puppy with a great deal of love and care, in particular when he does something "justly," especially after you start training your dog. When you begin training a puppy it is very important to communicate with him the instant you take him home. Do not await for your puppy to make a mistake or do something inappropriate prior to beginning communicating with him. Whenever you begin communicating with your puppy this way, you're fundamentally conditioning your puppy that you're good some of the times and not nice at different times.
2. Puppies love chewing therefore give your puppy a great deal of chew toys. You can make chew toys for your puppy or you can buy some from your local pet store. This manner your puppy understands early on to chew on his toys rather than your shoes!
3. Have comfy, warm bed for your puppy. If you expect for your puppy to live outdoors, make certain to provide him with weatherproof doghouse. The doghouse ought to be roomy too. If you resolve to allow your puppy sleep indoors, you'll be able to use a rectangular wooden box for his bed. You can also check out crates and kennels sold at local pet shops.
4. Observe your puppy when small kids are present. Puppies are practically no match for rambunctious little children. Puppies can easily become injured and even killed if they are left alone with youngsters. Small kids commonly do not understand that puppies are very delicate creatures and that they should be managed with additional care and gentleness.
5. Start your puppy on a steady feeding agenda the 1st day it comes in your home. If your puppy is six months old or younger, give him 3 to 4 solid meals daily. During each feeding, give your brand-new pup all the food he can eat within half-hour. After 30 minutes, remove any leftovers. It's really important that you allow for your puppy plenitude of fresh drinking water in between meals.
6. Begin training your puppy to go on steady bathroom breaks. Take your puppy to the same bathroom spot at the same times day-after-day, whenever at all possible. It's advocated that you take your puppy on bathroom breaks after every meal and two to three hours in between his meals, and after he's taken a nap. At nighttime, take your new puppy on late-night bathroom trips if possible. This will educate your puppy early on to go to his bathroom spot whenever he requires to urinate in the midst of the night rather than doing it right in his crate.
Remember that dog obedience training should remain consistent. When training a dog you do not want to do one think one day and something different the following day, this will just confuse the dog.
Increase the happy years of your dog by checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's dog training blog right now...
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Living Green
7 Top Tips On How To Live Green
By Geoff White
Living green doesn't mean you have to wave goodbye to all the niceties and luxuries of modern life. There are plenty of things you can do which will help you to live green without total sacrifice.
- Re-use: the bags you get every time you shop are good for more than one trip. Re-use them or, better yet, buy a "bag for life" and use that.
- Re-cycle: you probably already have a recycling collection service. If not, look out for recycling places local to you and drop off your newspapers, bottles, cans, etc next time you are passing. Don't make a special trip though. For larger items, if they're still usable then look up Freecycle for your local area.
- Eat local produce. Especially if it's bought fresh from a Farmer's Market. You'll notice the difference in taste. And if you buy just what you need (rather than the supersize pack your grocery store normally sells) it probably won't cost much more.
- Turn unused appliances off at the socket. Standby mode still uses lots of energy. Cut your fuel bills by turning off televisions and other items when they're not in use. That includes your computer's monitor as well.
- Wash your clothes at a lower temperature. Modern detergents work fine at lower temperatures. Or throw away the detergent in favor of Eco washing balls.
- Turn down the thermostat in the winter (and turn it up in the summer if you use air-conditioning). One or two degrees difference is barely noticeable, except when the fuel bill arrives.
- Compost waste if you have a garden, saving on fertilizer cost and giving your plants a treatment they'll love.
For more easy to follow tips on how to live green check out my guide. There's plenty of easy to use information that can often save you money as well as help save the planet when you start to live green without wearing a sack cloth and ashes.
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Adding A New Pet?
Thinking Of Adding A New Pet? Things You Need To Consider!
By Traci Murai
Things to consider before getting a new pet.
The Importance of Responsible Pet Ownership
A new pet can provide you and your family members with more unconditional love than you can imagine. But please remember that acquiring a pet is a lifetime commitment and should not be taken lightly.
There are several things to consider before adding a new member to your family:
Do you want an adult dog or cat or a puppy or kitten?
The amount of time that you will need to spend training your new pet depends greatly on its age. A young puppy will need to be housebroken, and will need to be given the opportunity to relieve itself at least every four hours. Puppies will go through a teething phase, which can mean chewing! Kittens, while more easily housebroken (litter box trained), are full of boundless energy and may release it by climbing up curtains and other household items unless trained not to do so!
How much time do you spend away from home?
When pets are left alone for long periods of time (more than 8-10 hours) they may display frustration behaviors such as barking, digging and chewing. In addition, if you are frequently away on overnight trips, it will be necessary to have someone care for your pet. Dogs, especially large breeds, need regular exercise. Will you have time in your schedule for a nightly walk?
Do you have small children?
Are they old enough to interact with a dog or cat responsibly without hurting themselves or the animal?
Cost
Remember that the average life span of a dog can be 10-15 years, and that of an indoor cat even longer (up to 20 years). Your pet will need to have regular veterinary care (not to mention veterinary attention for any unforeseen emergencies), a nutritious pet food, toys, a crate (for housebreaking) or litter pan and litter, a pet carrier (for trips in the car) and other miscellaneous supplies. All this can add up. Are you and your budget ready for the additional expense?
Unforeseen Situations
There's an old saying that the only constant in life is change. At some point, you and your family are bound to be affected by a change in job, location, family status - or perhaps all three! How will this affect your pet? If you are required to move, will you be able to take your pet with you? Are you willing to consider your pet in the re-location process? What if you or another family member becomes allergic to your pet? Do you plan to have children? Do you plan to have more than one pet? What if your pet comes down with a debilitating disease? How will you provide for your pet under these circumstances?
Unfortunately, many of the pets in shelters today are there because their previous owners didn't consider these possibilities. Please, before you make your decision, think about it seriously so your pet doesn't become a statistic once again.
http://journals.aol.com/rasraiette/thinking-of-adding-a-new-pet-bul/
Bullie Pups R Us
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Les Miserables
Sensational, dramatic, packed
with rich excitement and filled
with the sweep and violence of
human passions, LES MISER-
ABLES is not only superb adven-
ture but a powerful social docu-
ment. The story of how the convict
Jean-Valjean struggled to escape
his past and reaffirm his humanity,
in a world brutalized by poverty
and ignorance, became the gospel
of the poor and the oppressed.
Description provided by Amazon.com
Les Miserables (1978)
Director: Glenn Jordan
Writers: John Gay (writer), Victor Hugo (novel)
Les Miserables (1998)
Think & Grow Rich
This is one of the best books I've ever read in my life.
It is worth your time and attention.
is updated and revised with contemporary
ideas and examples.
Think and Grow Rich has been called the "Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature." It was the first book to boldly ask, "What makes a winner?" The man who asked and listened for the answer, Napoleon Hill, is now counted in the top ranks of the world's winners himself.
The most famous of all teachers of success spent "a fortune and the better part of a lifetime of effort" to produce the "Law of Success" philosophy that forms the basis of his books and that is so powerfully summarized in this one.
In the original Think and Grow Rich, published in 1937, Hill draws on stories of Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and other millionaires of his generation to illustrate his principles. In the updated version, Arthur R. Pell, Ph.D., a nationally known author, lecturer, and consultant in human resources management and an expert in applying Hill's thought, deftly interweaves anecdotes of how contemporary millionaires and billionaires, such as Bill Gates, Mary Kay Ash, Dave Thomas, and Sir John Templeton, achieved their wealth. Outmoded or arcane terminology and examples are faithfully refreshed to preclude any stumbling blocks to a new generation of readers.
Description provided by Amazon.com
The Pursuit Of Happyness
I just watched this segment on Glenn Beck. I loved it so much, I had to do a post about it. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
The astounding yet true rags-to-
riches saga of a homeless father
who raised and cared for his son
on the mean streets of San Fran-
cisco and went on to become a
crown prince of Wall Street
At the age of twenty, Milwaukee
native Chris Gardner, just out of
the Navy, arrived in San Fran-
cisco to pursue a promising
career in medicine. Considered a
prodigy in scientific research, he
surprised everyone and himself
by setting his sights on the comp-
etitive world of high finance. Yet no sooner had he landed an entry-level position at a prestigious firm than Gardner found himself caught in a web of incredibly challenging circumstances that left him as part of the city's working homeless and with a toddler son. Motivated by the promise he made to himself as a fatherless child to never abandon his own children, the two spent almost a year moving among shelters, "HO-tels," soup lines, and even sleeping in the public restroom of a subway station.
Never giving in to despair, Gardner made an astonishing transformation from being part of the city's invisible poor to being a powerful player in its financial district.
More than a memoir of Gardner's financial success, this is the story of a man who breaks his own family's cycle of men abandoning their children. Mythic, triumphant, and unstintingly honest, The Pursuit of Happyness conjures heroes like Horatio Alger and Antwone Fisher, and appeals to the very essence of the American Dream.
Description provided by Amazon.com
PostSecret
The instructions were simple, but the results were extraordinary.
"You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything
-- as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative."
It all began with an idea Frank Warren had for a community art project. He began handing out postcards to strangers and leaving them in public places -- asking people to write down a secret they had never told anyone and mail it to him, anonymously.
The response was overwhelming. The secrets were both provocative and profound, and the cards themselves were works of art -- carefully and creatively constructed by hand. Addictively compelling, the cards reveal our deepest fears, desires, regrets, and obsessions. Frank calls them "graphic haiku," beautiful, elegant, and small in structure but powerfully emotional.
As Frank began posting the cards on his website, PostSecret took on a life of its own, becoming much more than a simple art project. It has grown into a global phenomenon, exposing our individual aspirations, fantasies, and frailties -- our common humanity.
Every day dozens of postcards still make their way to Frank, with postmarks from around the world, touching on every aspect of human experience. This extraordinary collection brings together the most powerful, personal, and beautifully intimate secrets Frank Warren has received -- and brilliantly illuminates that human emotions can be unique and universal at the same time.
– A contributor on Postsecret.com
"Humanity at its finest . . . And because of it I am falling in love with the world again."
– TIME.com, "50 Coolest Websites of 2005"
"A fascinating public airing of private thoughts. . . The range of efforts (meticulous, sloppy, artful, ponderous) will astound you."
– A contributor on Postsecret.com
"Humanity at its finest . . . And because of it I am falling in love with the world again."
Confessor - Terry Goodkind
Descending into darkness, aboutto be overwhelmed by evil, those
people still free are powerless to
stop the coming dawn of a savage
new world, while Richard faces
the guilt of knowing that he must
let it happen. Alone, he must
bear the weight of a sin he dare
not confess to the one person he
loves and has lost. Join Richard
and Kahlan in the concluding
novel of one of the most
remarkable and memorable
journeys ever written. It started
with one rule, and will end with
the rule of all rules, the rule
unwritten, the rule unspoken
since the dawn of history. When
next the sun rises, the world will
be forever changed.
Eldest
Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel statefrom destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in
the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon
he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Surpassing its popular prequel Eragon, this second volume in the Inheritance trilogy shows growing maturity and skill on the part of its very young author, who was only seventeen when the first volume was published in 2003. The story is solidly in the tradition (some might say derivative) of the classic heroic quest fantasy, with the predictable cast of dwarves, elves, and dragons--but also including some imaginatively creepy creatures of evil.
The land of Alagaesia is suffering under the Empire of the wicked Galbatorix, and Eragon and his dragon Saphira, last of the Riders, are the only hope. But Eragon is young and has much to learn, and so he is sent off to the elven forest city of Ellesmera, where he and Saphira are tutored in magic, battle skills, and the ancient language by the wise former Rider Oromis and his elderly dragon Glaedr. Meanwhile, back at Carvahall, Eragon's home, his cousin Roran is the target of a siege by the hideous Ra'zac, and he must lead the villagers on a desperate escape over the mountains. The two narratives move toward a massive battle with the forces of Galbatorix, where Eragon learns a shocking secret about his parentage and commits himself to saving his people.
The sheer size of the novel, as well as its many characters, places with difficult names, and its use of imaginary languages make this a challenging read, even for experienced fantasy readers. It is essential to have the plot threads of the first volume well in mind before beginning--the publisher has provided not only a map, but a helpful synopsis of the first book and a much-needed Language Guide. But no obstacles will deter the many fans of Eragon from diving headfirst into this highly-awaited fantasy.
(Ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell
Eragon
Fifteen-year-old Eragon
believes that he is merely a poor
farm boy—until his destiny as a
Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted
with only an ancient sword, a
loyal dragon, and sage advice
from an old storyteller, Eragon is
soon swept into a dangerous
tapestry of magic, glory, and
power. Now his choices could
save—or destroy—the Empire.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here's a great big fantasy that you can pull over your head like a comfy old sweater and disappear into for a whole weekend. Christopher Paolini began Eragon when he was just 15, and the book shows the influence of Tolkien, of course, but also Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and perhaps even Wagner in its traditional quest structure and the generally agreed-upon nature of dwarves, elves, dragons, and heroic warfare with magic swords.
Eragon, a young farm boy, finds a marvelous blue stone in a mystical mountain place. Before he can trade it for food to get his family through the hard winter, it hatches a beautiful sapphire-blue dragon, a race thought to be extinct. Eragon bonds with the dragon, and when his family is killed by the marauding Ra'zac, he discovers that he is the last of the Dragon Riders, fated to play a decisive part in the coming war between the human but hidden Varden, dwarves, elves, the diabolical Shades and their neanderthal Urgalls, all pitted against and allied with each other and the evil King Galbatorix. Eragon and his dragon Saphira set out to find their role, growing in magic power and understanding of the complex political situation as they endure perilous travels and sudden battles, dire wounds, capture and escape.
In spite of the engrossing action, this is not a book for the casual fantasy reader. There are 65 names of people, horses, and dragons to be remembered and lots of pseudo-Celtic places, magic words, and phrases in the Ancient Language as well as the speech of the dwarfs and the Urgalls. But the maps and glossaries help, and by the end, readers will be utterly dedicated and eager for the next book, Eldest. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell
The Little Rascals Revisited
The Little Rascals (1994)
Editorial Reviews
Kids may enjoy the slapstick of this modern reworking of the old Our Gang comedies, but parents who grew up watching them on TV (or grandparents who saw them at theaters) will wonder why anyone would want to be involved in this pathetic remake. Directed by Penelope Spheeris, the film takes look-alike kids and casts them as Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, and the rest, minus any sense of what made the old Hal Roach comedies funny. Instead of kids being kids, these are kids doing shtick while recycling such old bits as the He-Man Woman Haters Club, the kids' go-cart race, and Spanky and Alfalfa dressing as girls. Devoid of charm or wit. --Marshall Fine
Provided by Amazon.com
Azooka
Two Pickles
We Got A Dollar
Note To Darla
911
Ugly Face
Classic Little Rascals (Our Gang) -
The Wild Man From Borneo
Arbor Day (1936)
Fishy Tales (1937)
Dusting Off The Oldies
I was looking through my mom's collection of oldies.
I have to admit, there's some good stuff in there.
Here's a sample.
I wonder if anyone remembers these people!?! :D
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Big Girls Don't Cry - Frankie Valli
Dream Lover - Bobby Darin
All I Have To Do Is Dream - Bobby Darin & Petula Clark
Dream Medley - Dean Marin & Petula Clark
Downtown (1964) - Petula Clark
Who You Really Are
Remember this movie?
Balto
And the sequel...
Balto 2 - Wolf Quest
The Grand Design
Muru's Chant
Who You Really Are
Man From Snowy River
Another classic movie -
The Man From Snowy River
With its unforgettably heroic story, its stunning cinematography, and acting performances that are uniformly excellent, THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER is one thrilling adventure you won't want to miss.
Set during the 1880's, when the Australian frontier was as wild and dangerous as the American West, the film follows the exploits of a handsome youth (Tom Burlinson) who sets out to tame a wild herd of horses.
Taking on a challenge many men had attempted before him, he rides deep into the treacherous and untamed wilderness of his native timberlands where boys become men fast - or die trying. Featuring Kirk Douglas in a remarkable dual role and highlighted by a climactic chase involving 40 horsemen and 90 wild stallions thundering across snow-covered peaks, THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER is destined to become a legendary film!
Description provided by Amazon.com
Jessica's Theme - set to Spirit
Banjo's Poem
The Man from Snowy River
Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson
THERE was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses — he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.
There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,
The old man with his hair as white as snow;
But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up—
He would go wherever horse and man could go.
And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,
No better horseman ever held the reins;
For never horse could throw him while the saddle-girths would stand,
He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.
And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast,
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony—three parts thoroughbred at least—
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.
He was hard and tough and wiry—just the sort that won’t say die—
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.
But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, “That horse will never do
For a long and tiring gallop—lad, you’d better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you.”
So he waited sad and wistful—only Clancy stood his friend —
“I think we ought to let him come,” he said;
“I warrant he’ll be with us when he’s wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred.
“He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko’s side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough,
Where a horse’s hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.
And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen.”
So he went — they found the horses by the big mimosa clump —
They raced away towards the mountain’s brow,
And the old man gave his orders, ‘Boys, go at them from the jump,
No use to try for fancy riding now.
And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.
Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,
For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,
If once they gain the shelter of those hills.’
So Clancy rode to wheel them—he was racing on the wing
Where the best and boldest riders take their place,
And he raced his stock-horse past them, and he made the ranges ring
With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.
Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,
But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,
And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,
And off into the mountain scrub they flew.
Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black
Resounded to the thunder of their tread,
And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back
From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.
And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,
Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide;
And the old man muttered fiercely, “We may bid the mob good day,
No man can hold them down the other side.”
When they reached the mountain’s summit, even Clancy took a pull,
It well might make the boldest hold their breath,
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.
But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,
While the others stood and watched in very fear.
He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat—
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.
Through the stringy barks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,
At the bottom of that terrible descent.
He was right among the horses as they climbed the further hill,
And the watchers on the mountain standing mute,
Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely, he was right among them still,
As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.
Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met
In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals
On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,
With the man from Snowy River at their heels.
And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam.
He followed like a bloodhound on their track,
Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home,
And alone and unassisted brought them back.
But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,
He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;
But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,
For never yet was mountain horse a cur.
And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise
Their torn and rugged battlements on high,
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze
At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,
And where around the Overflow the reedbeds sweep and sway
To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,
The man from Snowy River is a household word to-day,
And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.
The Journey Of Natty Gann
Yet another movie I grew up with - The Journey Of Natty Gann
The story of a teenage girl who's father leaves her in search for work as a tree logger in Seattle. Natty refuses to kick around in Chicago with the people whom her father has in-trusted her to, and goes in search of her father.
I love how she befriends a wild wolf.
That part was always exciting for me.
I've always liked wolves.
Siskel & Ebert Review
Better Off Dead & The Journey Of Natty Gann
Will You Be There
Remember this movie - Free Willy
I grew up with this movie. It was an excellent family film with good moral values. I felt like I really identified with this movie for whatever reason. You had to feel bad for the kid and his whale. I think there's a little "Free Willy!" spirit in all of us.
Wish I could find better videos.
I always loved listening to this song.
It was always so inspiring.
And still is.
Hope you enjoyed my little trip, back in time.
Ghost Riders In The Sky
This is a very cool movie - Ghostrider
I first heard about it and was excited, but I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. I really enjoyed it!
This movie reminds me of a song my fifth grade teacher always use to sing. Maybe you've heard of it.
Ghost Rider's In The Sky -
This is the remade version by Spiderbait.
This is an older version I found by Vaughn Monroe
Brings back memories.
The Mom Song - Anita Renfroe (William Tell)
"The Mom" song, sung to the William Tell Overture, by Anita Renfroe.
Clean Water Africa - Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
An amazingly talented actress.
Jennifer Connelly has acted in movies like The Labyrinth, The Rocketeer, A Beautiful Mind, etc.
"I felt for a long time that this is what I want to do so I'm happy at this point to just take my time and work on projects that I feel strongly about, and the rest of the time just live my life."
Inside the Actors Studio
Reservation Road (2007)
Blood Diamond (2006)
Little Children (2006)
Dark Water (2005)
House of Sand and Fog (2003)
Hulk (2003)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Pollock (2000)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Waking the Dead (2000)
Dark City (1998)
Inventing the Abbotts (1997)
Far Harbor (1996)
Mulholland Falls (1996)
Higher Learning (1995)
Of Love and Shadows (1994)
The Rocketeer (1991)
Career Opportunities (1991)
The Hot Spot (1990)
Some Girls (1988)
Étoile (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985)
Phenomena (1985)
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
The Labyrinth
Editorial Review
Sarah (a teenage Jennifer Connelly) rehearses the role of a fairy-tale queen, performing for her stuffed animals. She is about to discover that the time has come to leave her childhood behind. In real life she has to baby-sit her brother and contend with parents who don't understand her at all. Her petulance leads her to call the goblins to take the baby away, but when they actually do, she realizes her responsibility to rescue him. Sarah negotiates the Labyrinth to reach the City of the Goblins and the castle of their king. The king is the only other human in the film and is played by a glam-rocking David Bowie, who performs five of his songs. The rest of the cast are puppets, a wonderful array of Jim Henson's imaginative masterpieces. Henson gives credit to children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, and the creatures in the movie will remind Sendak fans of his drawings. The castle of the king is a living M.C. Escher set that adults will enjoy. The film combines the highest standards of art, costume, and set decoration. Like executive producer George Lucas's other fantasies, Labyrinth mixes adventure with lessons about growing up. --Lloyd Chesley
Provided by Amazon.com
The Rocketeer
Product Description
The discovery of a top-secret jetpack hurls test pilot Cliff Secord into a daring adventure of mystery, suspense, and intrigue! Cliff encounters an assortment of ruthless villains, led by a Hollywood screen star who's a secret Nazi spy (Timothy Dalton). With the help of his actress girlfriend, the young pilot battles enormous odds to defeat his foes who are anxious to use the device in an evil plan to rule the world! The dangerous mission transforms the ordinary young man into an extraordinary hero!
Editorial Reviews
Based on a retro-styled comic book hit of the '80s, this Disney film was meant to launch a whole line of Rocketeer films--but the series began and ended with this one. That's too bad, because this underrated Joe Johnston film has a certain loopy charm. The story centers on a pre-World War II stunt pilot (Bill Campbell) who accidentally comes into possession of a rocket-propelled backpack much coveted by the Nazis. With the aid of his mechanic pal (Alan Arkin), he gets it up and running, then uses it to foil a plot by a gang of vicious Nazi spies (is there any other kind?) led by Timothy Dalton. Jennifer Connelly is on hand as the love interest, but the real fun here is when the Rocketeer takes off. There's also a nifty battle atop an airborne blimp. --Marshall Fine
Provided by Amazon.com
A Beautiful Mind
Product Description
Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture A Beautiful Mind is directed by Academy Award winner Ron Howard and produced by long-time partner and collaborator Academy Award winner Brian Grazer. A Beautiful Mind stars Russell Crowe in an astonishing performance as brilliant mathematician John Nash on the brink of international acclaim when he becomes entangled in a mysterious conspiracy. Now only his devoted wife (Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly) can help him in this powerful story of courage passion and triumph.System Requirements:Running Time 136 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 025193026521 Manufacturer No: 61030265
Provided by Amazon.com
Pachelbel's Revenge
I thought this was very funny! lol
Pachelbel Rant - Rob Paravonian
A comedian rants about how much it sucks to play Pachelbel's Canon in D on a cello. Recorded live at Penn State, this piece by comedian/musician Rob Paravonian has been a favorite on the Dr. Demento Show.
Fastest Car In The World
Pretty freakin cool!
Fastest Car In The World -
Bugatti Veyron (Top Gear) - 253 mph / 407 kph
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