Pottermania Books, Games, Shows & Movies: Oprah's Book Club Fan List, Kinky Friedman Books

Congratulations to the Oprah Winfrey Show's 20th Season

2005-09-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

Oprah is back on her show. While it was off, she was forced to come out to make a few statements about some incidents, but she was on vacation. The show was scheduled for the September relaunch. Indeed, it got relaunched with a spanking brand new studio which costs millions of dollars and hours to design and build. It's truly an architectural signature of Oprah. (I will disclose here that like many women I am a fan of the show. More importantly, I am fan of the projects Oprah supports).

When the picture of Jennifer Anniston showed up on the screen, the fans went nuts. They finally had a chance to see her and hear her talk about her ordeals. Talk, she did! Oprah interviewed her on the show. "Are you ready to date again? Are you ready to go on with your life?" She also mentioned the Vanity Fair magazine that featured Brad Pitt's former wife. Jennifer was very candid in her response. "It takes some getting used to being alone again," she said. To refute and put down all rumors, she wants a baby. Jennifer receives the support of her friends who were at Oprah's house in California. They are her lifeline or support system. Jennifer is very busy making movies. One of the titles of her upcoming movies is "The Breakup." What a coincidence! Jennifer is moving on.

Oprah and Steman, her man: They went puppy shopping. They initially agreed to take one each, but Oprah had to get the cute one with the underbite that the puppy seller was trying to discourage her. So the power couple ended up leaving with three beautiful white puppies. They are drop gorgeous. Then, Oprah showed how she was losing sleep potty trainingt these new babies which she did not compare to human babies. She had to introduce them to her previous dogs. To train these new puppies that made their entrance on the show, she hired a trainer. They needed manners. Hey, Oprah can have all the toys she wants! Come on, Stedman, shop like a girl! No wonder Oprah usually has her girlfriends around to go shopping!

Talking about shopping, Oprah said she did not have a cow or throw a fit when she was refused entrance at a Hermes store in Paris. She showed all the articles that were written about the incident. She said that the press had it wrong. Then, she decided to talk about the whole incident in a polite way. She and her entourage wer already inside the store and saw a lot of other people shopping. Despite her efforts to shop, a RUDE employee turned her down. She stated that she felt bad. She felt awful. Then the camera went to Hermes USA president, Mr. Chavez. On the way out of the store, Oprah called him to express her surprise. Mr. Chavez said that he understood her situation. He apologized. That's all Oprah wanted to hear. He added that the worker did not know Oprah. It seems that you have to have a name to shop there. What was interesting to note is that Oprah said it the way she felt it. "For those of you who are not the right kind, the right skin color or the right class, you can understand how awful it feels to be turned down." Hermes USA president made up with Oprah. Well, she has money and power. Oprah is an influencer. Who does not want to kiss her face or shake her hands! oprah, you should have stood up for all the poor people, the black people, the Asian, Hispanic or people of color who have ever received an affront or considered suspicious the minute they set their feet at these highend, upscale stores! Will you do it next time? Be strong and don't take ... from anybody. I understand that you still have to offer an olive branch to your enemy. Hermes may end up taking some advertising pages in your magazines to cover its sins against people of color!

Oprah Pledged $10 million dollars towards the rebuilding of NOLA

Through her Angel Network Katrina Homes on Oprah.com, Oprah invites her fans and viewers to "put your money where your heart is." She wants everybody to give what they can. Maybe it's a toaster, beds, linens, sofas, towels, dishes, washers, dryers that you can afford. She wants you to turn houses into homes. Corporations can give too. Through her Katrina registry, you can give whatever you can afford. You can make a house a home. You can help rebuild lives. You can sponsor a house. Oprah's Angel Network will help rebuild homes with Habitat for Humanity. On the Oprah's Katrina Home Registry, you can choose items to donate. The items are just representative of the things that are needed in a home. You can find kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom item list and appliances. While you are there, you can also donate to the network's recovery efforts.

Oprah Did Not Snub John H. Johnson in his Death: She will Pay Tribute to Luther Vandross and John H. Johnson

2005-09-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Defending Oprah Winfrey: Dude, She Can Do It Better Than You Can. When Oprah Speaks, People Listen!

Please read the rest of the article published Allpromdresses Network

Oprah said she made sure to send some flowers and a note to Linda Johnson Rice, Johnson's daughter and CEO of the Johnson's publishing company and Johnson's wife, Eunice. Mr. Martin's sources told him that Oprah did not call, send a card or a note of condolence to the family. He added that he placed several calls to Harpo. It was to no avail. He wanted a public statement from her. He could not move on. He couldn't find a public statement from the likes of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, 50 Cents, Snoop Doggie Dog, Usher and so on. He was dwelling on the absence of Oprah from the funerals. That was enough material for him to cover in his paper.

Without any info from Oprah, he set out to speculate. He thought there may be a feud between the two media giants. He was determined to milk the story for what it's worth. Hello Bob Costas and CNN! Bob Costas can't allow himself to milk the story of the lost American girl in Aruba. CNN understood and stopped pestering him. He continued to speculate that the bad blood may have come from Ebony's publication of Sheila Johnson, the ex-wife of BET's Bob Johnson and a co-founder of the company as "America's first black female billionnaire."

D'uh, Oprah does not care about counting the beans any longer. She knows she is filthy rich. She is in a league with Bill Gates,the Wal-Mart brothers and others. She is doing charitable work in Africa and Haiti. Is she doing anything in Haiti? Maybe she will go to some funerals there. She can do a show about the malnourished and the sick who are dying for lack of care and money.

To some level, I can understand Mr. Martin's criticism. Mr. Johnson and his family built their media in Chicago. Oprah or Harpo inc. is based in the same city. He was wondering why she kept silent. Oprah's staff did not relay the message left by Martin. They know her policies. If anything, Mr. Martin's stance will endear him to the Ebony and JET companies which Mrs. Rice and Eunice are running. We only hope that Chicago Defender won't lose him to the above two because he appears to be doing such a great job editing the paper.

Just like Martin, my hats off to Mr. Johnson who died on August 8. When nobody cared about Black people, he cared. Mr. Johnson cared about the voices of black men and women in this country and overseas. He knew they had good stories to tell. With Ebony and Jet, he chronicled the history of African Americans and important black people for a whole generation. How many of us will do something worth mentioning many years from now? Are we out to destroy each other? As human beings, we must honor and respect each other every day.

Mr. Martin is an equal opportunity observer. He also observed the absence of President Bush, current and former secretaries of state, Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell. Was Michael Jordan attending the funerals? How about Kobe Bryant? Who else can you think of?

Lo and behold, Mr. Martin did talk to Oprah who informed him that she did send the note and flowers. He got her ears. What a way of getting somebody's attention. The media are a powerful tool. Martin and Oprah recognize it. The former has been compelled to write a new column to refute his previous one. I can guarantee you this is not going to be the end. Writing has a way of being recurrent. It's the Duracell's effect. It goes on and on and on! Wait until you watch the show honoring the memories of Luther Vandross and John H. Johnson. By the way, Oprah may send another round of flowers to Sidney Poitier. When will I receive some from her? I am alive. Nobody seems to notice. Do they notice the poor any way? How many people write about those who are dying of hunger and famine in Africa?

By the way, Linda Johnson Rice and Eunice did not receive the card and flowers Oprah sent. Oprah has the proof and the receipts to show. Mr. Martin believes her. The family thanks Mr. Martin for his efforts at commemorating the memories of Mr. Johnson. The are waiting for Oprah's tribute to the patriarch's legacy on her show.

Once again, hats off to Luther Vandross and J. H. Johnson!

Sources:

Yahoo News
www.chicagodefender.com
www.oprah.com
O, The Oprah Magazine

A new book that caught my attention: Pull Yourself Up by your bra straps by Jeanne Bice

2005-09-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

Jeanne wrote her book to be able to meet Oprah. I guess Oprah may have already seen her success. She pulled herself up by her own bra straps. That's what Oprah would laugh with her about.

Some readers she is the cross between Erma Bombeck and Dr. Phil. The publisher, Hyperion, wrote this about her.

"Jeanne Bice is the founder and proprietor of The Quacker Factory clothing company. Once an amateur crafter who was encouraged by her husband, Bice opened a retail store selling her creations. Discovered during a QVC entrepreneur hunt, Bice’s clothing is now one of the most popular lines sold on the channel. She lives in Boca Raton, Florida."

I saw her on QVC. She is hilarious. Hey, I will do anything to help a woman with her business. Woman-owned businesses need all kinds of support.

Rap Mogul Suge Knight Got Shot in the Leg at MTVA in Miami

2005-08-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

P. Diddy announced that there would be newsbreaking. Nobody thought there would be shooting. In what's been announced as the event of the year by the press and specially MTVA host Sean Combs, the award has come to take a life of its own. From Usher, Alicia Keyes, Ciara, Paris Hilton and you name it, well, to R. Kelly, everybody who is a celeb is expected to be there today.

Ms. Ferguson and Kelly Clarkson won awards.

Nobody expected Suge Knight to be shot at Shore Club resort. He is well. He received care at the hospital. He is in good condition. Knight is the founder of the pioneering music label Death Row Records.

Erotica Books: Chocolate Flava, Heat Sisters, Sex Chronicles & Indoctrination You Can't Put Down

2005-08-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Call Them Chick Lit or Erotic Romance Novels or Erotica; They Sell a lot

2005-08-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Some of the Bestselling Zane Books published by Atria

2005-08-21T11:48:00.000-07:00

The Insider Movie Review: An Insider Takes on Big Tobacco

2005-08-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

The Insider is the story of an unknown man who finds himself at the mercy of complete strangers in an unfamiliar landscape, culture and customs. It’s also the story of an unknown man riding out of control in his own life and becomes a story of pain, ethics and giving up. Later on, we found one of the two protagonists of the movie, a chemist named Dr. Wigand. He was married with two children, one of which had asthma. While a Big Tobacco detective was researching his life, he found out that Dr. Wigand had a previous relationship which he did not disclose to Lowell Bergman.

In my opinion, Liane who is Dr. Wigand’s current wife in the movie started using the teleological thought. Upon finding out that her husband got fired, she started wondering about the impact the termination would have on her family and sick daughter in terms of healthcare and payment of mortgage on the house. Later on, she was seen mulling the idea of whether to stay married to Wigand or leave. She accepted to move or downsize to a new house. She had time to think over the pros and cons of her husband’s decision that ended up affecting her and taking away her dream. Using the Virtue bucket, one can wonder whether the vow she took came with the condition that money would always be part of the equation. She did not keep her vow to stay married in sickness, diseases, poverty and wealth until death do them apart. Once the husband got fired, all vows appeared to cease. In the dial or right vs. right decision, Liane cared about the welfare of her children and acted on her self-instinct.

Dr. Wigand’s previous wife appeared to be truthful in answering the questions of the interviewer. She provided the answers to the best of her ability. At the same time, she knew that she was somehow connected to Dr. Wigand through their common child. Dr. Wigand continues to pay child support. He had left this woman to find fame and wealth in his work. This wife could have weighted the ideas of embellishing her story to give more trouble to Wigand. She did not. She showed her virtue by refraining from resolving the problems in public.

Quinceanera Planner: Quinceanera is the Hispanic Girl’s Rite of Passage: Lots of Celebration, Fun, Foods and Dancing.

2005-08-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

Browse Quinceanera Dresses, Quinceaner History, Quinceanera Books etc

Cast a good luck, love and money spell at SantaLuciaBotanica

Edwidge Danticat's Book: My Favorite Thus Far.

2005-08-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Edwidge Danticat: One of the Premier Haitian American Author's Books

2005-08-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Kinky Friedman, the Funnyman. Read his books: Can the public take him seriously?

2005-08-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Check out the Music, Books & Candidacy: Kinky Friedman, Governor of Texas?

Kinky Friedman's Mystery Novels and Music Show He Is A Hard Worker

2005-08-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Kinky Friedman or Kinky for short: Next Texas Governor: His Works & Future

2005-08-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Kinky Friedman is a wildly popular Texan. Maybe he is the most famous Jewish Texan. After a stint in the Peace Corps in Borneo, he came back to the country. While he was in Borneo, he started working on his country music songs. He released his first album, Sold American, which was hugely accepted by his fans and the public. In no time, he and his band, The Jewboys, became a sensation and a fixture in many Texan places such as the Ole Opry and elsewhere. The band became famous or infamous for such albums as "Get your biscuits in the over and Your Buns in the Bed," "They Ain't Making Jews like Jesus Anymore," and "Ballad of Charles Whitman." Later on, he and his band mates got tired and drifted apart. He took up writing novels. He has written more than 9 of them. He has found a new group of fans in these readers. Writing mysteries keeps him on his ranch which his parents bought back in the 1940s. Now, he wants to be governor of Texas. Check out Kinky's platform at www.kinkyfriedman.com

Books That Teach Ethics: The Rise and Fall of Enron

2005-08-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

With major titles and subtitles, Fortune has a great coverage of the Enron meltdown. It has a photo essay and behind-the-scene scoop on the energy company that knew boom and bust. "Greed, Love, Sex and massive amount of Ego," "Employees are the best line of defense," "Strip clubs, Daredevil trips and $1 million paychecks," "What Does Andy Fastow Know?" and "Partners in Crime" are some of the titles you will be pleased to read. If you want a subscription to read them, it will be worth it. Fortune is a good magazine that I have been reading off and on for the past 15 years.

Quinceanera Planner, the new book!

2005-08-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

Quinceanera Dresses and Quinceanera Planning

Peter Jennings' Two Books: In Search of America and The Century

2005-08-09T22:34:00.000-07:00

JUICED: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, And How Baseball Got Big

2005-08-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

Do you wonder whether anybody wants to wear his jersey? Think again. Jose names names in his book. He said he took steroids and human growth hormones with Mark Maguire, Rodriguez. In Juiced, he went further than what we have already known. High-profile players such as Jason Giambi, Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield have been dealing with the steroid issues.

In a 60 minutes series played twice, he admitted to having used these ilicit drugs during his career despite the fact that he had said otherwise. He realized that reporters can make a player's career if they like him or destroy him if they dislike him. He said there was no objectivity in the news.

2005-08-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

Why do people keep asking about the state of her marriage? Why can't she have it all? The music career, the fashion career and the movie career, on top of it all, a handsome husband?
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2005-08-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Jessica is answering personal questions about her marriage. No, it's not in trouble. Everything is going well. During this interview with ABC, I found out that she is a PK, a preacher's kid. Anyway, with her new movie, this southern belle has contributed to the rise of the South!
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2005-08-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

Pitching the release of her movie and singing to a large crowd.
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2005-08-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

In its first week-end release, The Dukes of Hazzard is taking the top spot at the box office. It's beating many other previously released movies. Fantastic Four, the Wedding Crashers, Sky High, Must Love Dogs, Stealth, The Island are taking a beating. Jessica Simpson's movie career is taking off. Will she still sign?
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The Women of Books: Oprah Winfrey and JK Rowlings: Find Oprah Book Club List

2005-08-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

There's nobody like author JK Rowlings. But there's nobody like Oprah's famous book club when it comes to plugging these books. For some time, she was the force to reckon with in the book industry. As soon as she picked a book, it went to the bestseller list. Her touch was golden. She became an invaluable tool in the hand of the writers and publishers. Everybody was praying for her to select their book as the reading book of the month. She had time to select quite a few titles which sold millions of copies for their authors and publishers. Then, something catastrophic happened. A certain author who was invited to her book club refused, turned down her invitation. A light came on in her head. She decided to close the book club and came back later with an emphasis on the classics. Ophra's love for books did not stop with this public affront. Well, the author's fear was that Oprah was cheapening his books. He did not want people, his readers to think he wrote a popular book. No matter what, Oprah is into the classics right now. The following two lists contain the books that showed up on her show.

Oprah’s Book Club List
Allende, Isabel - Daughter of Fortune
Angelou, Maya - The Heart of a Woman
Ansay, A. Manette - Vinegar Hill
Berg, Elizabeth - Open House
Binchy, Maeve - Tara Road
Bohjalian, Chris - Midwives
Buck, Pearl S. - The Good Earth
Clarke, Breena - River, Cross My Heart
Cleage, Pearl - What Looks Like Crazy On an Ordinary Day
Cosby, Bill - The Best Way to Play
Cosby, Bill - The Meanest Thing to Say
Cosby, Bill - Treasure Hunt
Danticat, Edwidge - Breath, Eyes, Memory
Dubus, Andre - House of Sand and Fog
Fitch, Janet - White Oleander
Franzen, Jonathan - The Corrections
Gaines, Ernest - A Lesson Before Dying
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel - One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gibbons, Kaye - Ellen Foster
Gibbons, Kaye - A Virtuous Woman
Hamilton, Jane - The Book of Ruth
Hamilton, Jane - A Map of the World
Haynes, Melinda - Mother of Pearl
Hegi, Ursula - Stones From the River
Hoffman, Alice - Here on Earth
Kingsolver, Barbara - The Poisonwood Bible
Lamb, Wally - I Know This Much Is True
Lamb, Wally - She's Come Undone
Letts, Billie - Where the Heart Is
Lott, Bret - Jewel
McCullers, Carson - The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
MacDonald, Ann-Marie - Fall on Your Knees
Miller, Sue - While I Was Gone
Mistry, Rohinton - A Fine Balance.
Mitchard, Jacquelyn - The Deep End of the Ocean
Morgan, Robert - Gap Creek
Morris, Mary McGarry - Songs in Ordinary Time
Morrison, Toni - The Bluest Eye
Morrison, Toni - Paradise
Morrison, Toni - Song of Solomon
Morrison, Toni - Sula
Morrissy, Mary - Mother of Pearl
Oates, Joyce Carol - We Were The Mulvaneys
O'Dell, Tawni - Back Roads
Oukfir, Malika - Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail
Paton, Alan - Cry, the Beloved Country
Quindlen, Anna - Black and Blue
Reynolds, Sheri - Rapture of Canaan
Rohinton, Mistry - A Fine Balance
Rubio, Gwyn Hyman - Icy Sparks
Schlink, Bernhard - The Reader
Schwarz, Christina - Drowning Ruth
Shreve, Anita - The Pilot's Wife
Steinbeck, John - East of Eden
Tademy, Lalita - Cane River
Tolstoy, Leo - Anna Karenina

=================================
2004
• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
2003
• East of Eden by John Steinbeck
• Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
Other books featured were:
• The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard
• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
• The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
• She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
• Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi
• The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds
• The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou
• Songs in Ordinary Time by Mary McGarry Morris
• A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
• Ellen Foster and A Virtuous Woman by Kaye Gibbons
• The Meanest Thing to Say, The Treasure Hunt, and The Best Way to Play by Bill Cosby
• Paradise by Toni Morrison
• Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman
• Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen
• Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
• I Know this Much Is True by Wally Lamb
• What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, by Pearl Cleage
• Midwives, by Chris Bohjalian
• Where the Heart Is, by Billie Letts
• Jewel, by Bret Lott
• The Reader, by Bernhard Schlink
• The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve
• White Oleander, by Janet Fitch
• Mother of Pearl, by Melinda Haynes
• Tara Road, by Maeve Binchy
• River, Cross My Heart, by Breena Clarke
• Vinegar Hill, by A. Manette Ansay
• A Map of the World, by Jane Hamilton
• Gap Creek, by Robert Morgan
• Daughter of Fortune, by Isabel Allende
• Back Roads, by Tawni O'Dell
• The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
• While I was Gone, by Sue Miller
• The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
• Open House, by Elizabeth Berg
• Drowning Ruth, by Christina Schwarz
• House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III
• We Were the Mulvaneys, by Joyce Carol Oates
• Icy Sparks, by Gwyn Hyman Rubio
• Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail, by Malika Oufkir
• Cane River, by Lalita Tademy
• The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen
• A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry
• Fall on Your Knees, by Ann-Marie MacDonald
• Sula, by Toni Morrison

Was Jessica Alba Tom Cruise's First Choice as a publicity Girlfriend?

2005-08-02T01:57:00.000-07:00

Jessica Alba, starring in Fantastic Four, Sin City, Never Been Kissed etc. was in Mr. Cruise's love radar. He wanted the young people of the world to see his virility by going out with young women. We doubt he would be able to handle the fame of this young California woman. Maybe he was afraid that her fame would eclipse his. So the Rolling Stone article said that he settled on Kathie Holmes whose fame is not at his level.

Jessica Alba played a goodhearted stripper in Sin City. She is a higly sought after model and actress. She said she is tired of being seen as the body or the beauty. She does not want to be seen only in reference to bikinis. She weighs 120 lbs depending on the exercise regiment. She is 5 feet 6 1/2 tall. She is a mixture of Mexican and French-Danish heritage. No wonder she has that exotic look which Cruise could not resist.

No matter what, she has her head planted right between her shoulders. She is down to earth and not stupid.

2005-08-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Dukes of Hazzard and Jessica Simpson.
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2005-08-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Jessica Simpson and the Dukes of Hazzard. A great movie to check out.
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Grand Theft Auto: GTA: San Andreas

2005-07-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Very rarely have I played a game that keeps me on the edge of my seat. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is one of these games that I played with so much gusto. It also provided me with so much fun. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was developed by Rockstar North for the PlayStation 2. It may be the game that sets PS2 apart from the raging competition between the X-Box and the PlayStation. Almost all of my friends want to play this game despite all the moral issues that it has caused in the media. In fact, I will hereby give you this warning. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is aimed at the mature audience as defined by the ESRB or Entertainment Software Rating Board which is an independent group established in 1994 to rate video games.

Games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City have a mature rating by the ESRB. That means that they have content that may not be OK for those aged 17 and younger to watch. Coarse language and violence are expected. There is also the "teen rating" category. For sure, the "Adults Only" rating is self-explanatory. There can't be any adolescents playing these games.

Guess what, it's finally discovered that some illicit content was embedded on the game disk!

What's all the hoopla about this game about?

Grand Theft Auto is only a game. But, played by the wrong group of young people who are the most likely to play games anyway, it can become a weapon in the hands of those who equate such violence with aggression in our children. So you can imagine why some parents, politicians and advocates want to take on this game. Thanks to the explicit rating on Grand Theft, there should not be any case for confusion. At least, that's what those pushing and marketing the game want the rest of the public to understand. In reality, it may not be what's going among those below age 18 and younger. As a parent who is also a gamer, I just hope that parents of those younger kids can judge whether their youngsters are mature enough to play it. The lines between fiction and reality tend to blur in some instances. These kids are at an age where their precious mind is being molded. They absorb just like sponges do. If you are 17 or younger, you are asked to stay away from this game If your parents give you special authorization to play it with your pals, then it's OK. After playing, Grand Theft Auto III and this new one, I can tell you that they are not for the faint of heart.

What are the premises of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City any way?

Disturbing aspects and different from others

Looking at this game as such, it's a gamer's dream come true. It has all the things, the shoot-them-up sessions, the weapons, the flashy cars, motorcycles, boats and even planes. Of course, the frequent chases by cops for breaking the laws. It appears that in that Miami look-alike city of the 1980s, it is hard to talk about laws. In this game, you are allowed to be as bad as you can be. By the way, that's how you are going to succeed! This is where this game is very disturbing. In this installment, you are not the good guy. In fact, you are the thug, the worst criminal and scum of the earth going on various missions for the boss. You have more opportunities to earn cash to buy automatic weapons, more cars to steal and all kinds of music to listen to from all these loots. Nothing can escape you when it comes to stealing: planes, cars, boats, motorcycles etc. In fact, you can even ride your bikes looking for people to kill. How disturbing is this game in that it changes the usual formula?

If you had the chance to play Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City, by playing Vice City, you will soon realize that it is far better than its predecessor. The new game has more places to see and go. With its new system, it has become much easier to shoot your targets. Playing as Tommy Vercetti who is an all-out thug, you will be given the chance to strut your stuff by taking care of some business for the mob. You will be taking care of dirty jobs which will involve your indiscriminate shooting at those who steal your boss's drugs, cocaine and other goodies. You will be going on many different types of missions for the big guy. To meet your goals, you will remove all kinds of obstacles. You have the license to kill not only other criminals but also paramedics, other paramedics who come to rescue the first ones.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's graphics, soundtrack and more

I know that one of the appeals of this game is its soundtrack. Ranging from wild rock music to talk shows to a group of stars lending their voice to the gig, this game is a must-have. There is no doubt that you will want to listen to some of these songs over and over. Among the stars, you will find Dennis Hopper, Burt Reynolds, Tom Sizemore and Ray Liotta. The graphics are also superb. This game is loaded with interesting, colorful folks, beautiful interior and exterior showing scenes of great landscape.

If you are of age, I would invite you to check this game out. Play it and before you leave, erase its scenes from your mind. Remember that you can take it; you can play it without any problems, but others may not be able to digest the nonsense violent acts and scenes. Who wants to shoot a paramedic and pizza delivery person? This game allows you to do all of that and more.

1930s's Mafia: Experience the new Game

2005-07-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

Experience the life a cab driver in the 1930s. Find out how he had to experience the life of a mafioso. He soon exchanged his simple life for one on the fast lane. He gradually became one of them. He was called upon to do some jobs. He realized how good the money was. The leaders kept on calling him for more jobs. The money got better. All the while, he continues to do his cab driving. How long will he be able to lead this double life? Soon, he'll have to make up his mind. All the shootouts and and money may not be worth it.

This is a great game that you will enjoy playing if you are avid player.

Yahoo's Gamesdomain.yahoo.com is Top Notch: Games, Reviews and Videos in one Place

2005-07-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

I had a blast watching, playing some of these games with friends. Yahoo has just delivered on what most of us, gamers, want. We have always asked for something like that. We'll make good use of it. Kudos for the Yahoo engineers and designers who came up with such great graphics. Games.yahoo.com is still there. But there is nothing better than gamesdomain.yahoo.com. Way to go, Yahoo!

How Terry McMillan Lost The Groove She Got from Jamaica

2005-07-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Terry McMillan is a very popular author. She is well-known thanks to her two books which were made into movies. “Waiting to Exhale” and “How Stella Got her Groove Back” gave her a huge readership and lots of money. How come Terry has now lost the groove she got from Jamaica?

Her latest book is about a pre-menopausal homemaker who discovers she is pregnant and struggles to put her needs above others. The publication of this book seems to take a back seat to her personal problems. Terry is going through a messy divorce that tends to give more spotlight to her personal life than the book. The Interruption of Everything is the title of her new book. It’s quite a coincidence. Terry, 53 years old, is the process of divorcing her husband of 6 years. In fact, she is an older woman who fell head over heels for a young guy, John Plummer while vacationing in Jamaica. Whatever happened to their relationship, during the release of the books and subsequent movies, Jamaica’s tourism had seen a surge.

Legions of women started making reservations and going on vacation in Jamaica. Well-known beach areas such as Negril started being flooded with single women who pack the nightclubs searching for their book-deal, movie-making prince charming. Yes, Terry received the flacks from some of her friends. What in the world was she thinking when she embarked on her new affair with a 24-year island dude? Some people were saying that he would give her a run for her money. Others were defending the young man because they did not think he knew the type of mega author Terry was or was becoming during the past few years. No matter what her best friends may have told her, Terry was ready to hook it up with this young Jamaican. It was love at first sight. That also meant that she had to start making some investments in him. The first thing was to sponsor him to come to the United States. He wanted to come on vacation. One thing led to another, he decided to stay. To legalize her stay, with much love, the pair got married. A new couple was formed.

Who could have thought that John Plummer would come out of the closet? Nobody thought he was gay. Not even those men and women who are equipped with gaydar! A lot of them thought he was a cute young man that Terry had under her arms. All along, there was something sinister. Something that did not match quite well. Besides the physical attraction, what else did they have in common? Terry would still have her life as a writer and an author. What was he to do? As a human being and a man, could he just be there? So he asked Terry for help to set up a dog grooming business. Maybe he wanted to capitalize on the love that the huge stars and rich people lavish on their pets. Hmmm, it was an excellent business idea for someone who wants to work hard. Critics saw symbolisms. They are charging that Terry did not want a man. She wanted a man-servant. She did not want a real man. That’s why she went overseas, trashing local, American-born guys. She dissed the African-American males, causing many news programs to talk about the scarcity of strong black males and their incarcerations by thousands all over the country. Others were even led to question whether strong, rich black females will ever settle with a brother. Now a lot of these guys may be laughing at Terry’s bad news. Her divorce may be painful, but she asked for it in a sense. These critics are asking why she could not find any decent heterosexual here. Terry may have wanted somebody that her fame and money could control. A companion who would not talk back to her. Somebody she would control from sunup to sundown. An observer stated that she wanted a puppy.

Someone said that relationships work best when they exist among equals. Theirs was not. She was rich and older. He was poor and younger. She was an established lady. He was still searching for his own sexuality. He was not stable by any stretch.

Terry Mcmillan’s husband turns out to be gay. He told her. She has to live with the truth. She has a restraining order against him. He does too. Will women continue to flock to Jamaica hoping to find their groove there?

The Couch is Dead: It will never come back. Was it Recalled?

2005-07-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

I heard it from Jon's mouth. The couch will not be back. We may wonder what caused the disappearance of the lovely show item which had its own aura of fame. It may be a question of jealousy. The Couch was becoming too popular with the stars who visited the show. Jon and some of his sidekicks could not take it any longer. The Couch had to be reassigned. It's on a mission. We'll have to wait and see how long it will be gone.

Just like the other fans, I am saying, "Jon, bring the couch back!"

Talking about the Couch brings us to the new DVD released by Jon on the Daily Show. It's titled "Indecision 2004." Check it out.

Pottermaniabooks: Harry Potter Books are a global phenomenon

2005-07-22T03:08:00.000-07:00

While themes in the Harry Potter series anger christian groups, the books continue to be very popular all over the world. Even used books of the series are becoming scarce according to Abebooks.com

According to CNN and AP, Vietnam joined the world in falling under Harry Potter's spell as a local publishing house rolled out the first full-length version of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" this week to rave reviews.

"We've never had a storybook like this," said Quach Thu Nguyet, vice-director of the Ho Chi Minh City-based publisher, the Youth Publishing House. "In the past, we only had comic books for children."

The book, translated into Vietnamese, is not the first Harry Potter exposure people here have had. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was first published in September but in an unusual format: It was divided into seven smaller paperbacks with each part was released a week at a time.

It was followed by a serialized version of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," divided into eight parts. All four Harry Potter books are planned to be published this way.

The intention was to make it affordable for children, particularly those in poorer, rural areas, said Nguyet. Each part sells for 4,500 dong (about 35 cents).

On this side of the world, the Harry Potter series is raking in huge numbers.

"Sales for used copies of Harry Potter books rose 300% in June," said Marci Crossan, spokesperson for Abebooks. "Our booksellers tell us people want the whole series and are scooping up used copies online. Even the new book, "The Order of the Phoenix," is available used at Abebooks.com, as are rare signed editions, versions in Latin, Spanish, large print, and audiobook."

There are 3,889 used JK Rowling books on Abebooks.com, and signed first editions are selling for between $200 and $1.2 million. At $1.2 million, the most expensive Potter item is for a signed galley proof of "The Prisoner of Azkaban" (Cheviot Books, England). The cheapest Potter item is .45 for a paperback copy of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (Pyramid Books, New Jersey).

What Pottermania is doing for the used books industry: All the News about Pottermania

2005-07-22T02:59:00.000-07:00

Previously read copies of Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling are boosting sales for the secondhand book market and helping small, used book sellers profit from Pottermania, reports Abebooks.com, the world's largest online marketplace for used, rare and out-of-print books.

"Sales for used copies of Harry Potter books rose 300% in June," reports Marci Crossan, Abebooks spokesperson. "Our booksellers tell us people want the whole series and are scooping up used copies online. Even the new book -- 'The Order of the Phoenix' -- is available used at Abebooks.com, as are rare signed editions, versions in Latin, Spanish, large print, and audiobook."

This is positive news for collectors and people with signed Rowling books. Signed first editions are selling for between $200 and $1.2 million on Abebooks.com.

Source: Yahoo Finance. Read the rest of the article there.

Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart -Comedy Central Pick

2005-07-22T01:41:00.000-07:00

Drama Series: % wood," HBO; "Lost," ABC; "Six Feet Under," HBO; "24," Fox; "The West Wing," NBC.

Predicted Winner: HBO

Comedy Series: "Arrested Development," Fox; "Desperate Housewives," ABC; "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; "Scrubs," NBC; "Will & Grace," NBC.

Predicted Winner: ABC's "Desperate Housewives"

Miniseries: "Elvis," CBS; "Empire Falls," HBO; "The 4400," USA; "The Lost Prince (Masterpiece Theatre)," PBS.

Predicted Winner: HBO's "Empire Falls"

Made-for-TV Movie: "Lackawanna Blues," HBO; "The Life and of Peter Sellers," HBO; "The Office Special," BBC America; "Warm Springs," HBO; "The Wool Cap," TNT.

Predicted Winner: HBO's "The Life of Peter Sellers" and "Warm Springs"

Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "Da Ali G Show," HBO; "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central; "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," NBC; "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS; "Real Time With Bill Maher," HBO.

Predicted Winner: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Variety, Music or Comedy Special: "77th Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth," Showtime; "Everybody Loves Raymond - The Last Laugh," CBS; "The Games of The XXVIII Olympiad - Opening Ceremony," NBC; "58th Annual Tony Awards (2004)," CBS.

Predicted Winner: Everybody Loves Raymond

Actor, Drama Series: James Spader, "Boston Legal," ABC; Ian McShane, % wood," HBO; Hugh Laurie, "House," Fox; Hank Azaria, "Huff," Showtime; Kiefer Sutherland, "24," Fox.

Predicted Winner: %Wood, HBO

Actress, Drama Series: Jennifer Garner, "Alias," ABC; Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC; Patricia Arquette, "Medium," NBC; Glenn Close, "The Shield," FX; Frances Conroy, "Six Feet Under," HBO.

Predicted Winner: Frances Conry, Six Feet Under, HBO

Supporting Actor, Drama Series: William Shatner, "Boston Legal," ABC; Oliver Platt, "Huff," Showtime; Naveen Andrews, "Lost," ABC; Terry O'Quinn, "Lost," ABC; Alan Alda, "The West Wing," NBC.

Predicted Winner: Terry O`Quinn, Lost, ABC.

Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; Blythe Danner, "Huff," Showtime; Tyne Daly, "Judging Amy," CBS; CCH Pounder, "The Shield," FX; Stockard Channing, "The West Wing," NBC.

Predicted Winner: Tyne Daly, Judging Amy, CBS

Actor, Comedy Series: Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development," Fox; Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Tony Shalhoub, "Monk," USA; Zach Braff, "Scrubs," NBC; Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace," NBC.

Predicted Winner: Eric McCormack, Will and Grace, NBC

Actress, Comedy Series: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives," ABC; Teri Hatcher, "Desperate Housewives," ABC; Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives," ABC; Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm In The Middle," Fox.

Predicted Winner: Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond.

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeffrey Tambor, "Arrested Development," Fox; Jeremy Piven, "Entourage," HBO; Peter Boyle, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Brad Garrett, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Sean Hayes, "Will & Grace," NBC.

Predicted Winner: Sean Hayes, Will & Grace, NBC

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Jessica Walter, "Arrested Development," Fox; Doris Roberts, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Holland Taylor, "Two And A Half Men," CBS; Conchata Ferrell, "Two And A Half Men," CBS; Megan Mullally, "Will & Grace," NBC.

Predicted Winner: Megan Mullally, Will and Grace.

Actor, Miniseries or a Movie: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, "Elvis," CBS; Ed Harris, "Empire Falls," HBO; Geoffrey Rush, "The Life and of Peter Sellers," HBO; Kenneth Branagh, "Warm Springs," HBO; William H. Macy, "The Wool Cap," TNT.

Predicted Winner: Geoffrey Rush.

Actress, Miniseries or a Movie: Blythe Danner, "Back When We Were Grownups (Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation)," CBS; Debra Winger, "Dawn Anna," Lifetime Television; S. Epatha Merkerson, "Lackawanna Blues," HBO; Halle Berry, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," ABC; Cynthia Nixon, "Warm Springs," HBO.

Predicted Winner: Halle Berry

Supporting Actor, Miniseries or a Movie: Randy Quaid, "Elvis," CBS; Paul Newman, "Empire Falls," HBO; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Empire Falls," HBO; Christopher Plummer, "Our Fathers," Showtime; Brian Dennehy, "Our Fathers," Showtime.

Predicted Winner: Paul Newman

Supporting Actress, Miniseries or a Movie: Camryn Manheim, "Elvis," CBS; Joanne Woodward, "Empire Falls," HBO; Charlize Theron, "The Life and of Peter Sellers," HBO; Jane Alexander, "Warm Springs," HBO; Kathy Bates, "Warm Springs," HBO.

Predicted Winner: Charlize Theron

See the full list of Emmy Awards' predicted winners, losers and hot dresses

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Please give your two cents or comments

Go ahead and place your comments below. If you want The Daily Show to win, prove it with your comments. Let Jon know about it! There is also another site which has a good following (http://bringbackthecouch.blogspot.com). You can also comment there.

Welcome to Pottermania Books and Movie Reviews

2005-07-22T01:27:00.000-07:00

This is where you will find about the books my friends and I are reading. If you care about movies, you will find good movies which will help you spend your time and money wisely. Pottermania Books and Movie Reviews will receive your suggestions and comments.

We hope you will like our comments about books, movies, tv shows and other interesting docudrama or reality shows.

Pottermania Books and Movie Reviews will try to be offbeat and creative at the same time.