Continued from Part 1, Part 2 of our interview with John Andrus of Livi Design focuses on answering the question of how the Casetop product will be repaired, replaced and if there are accessories in the works. Addressing reader and prospective kickstarter backers who have questions about the quality of the product, John Andrus will also go into how long the product is expected to last and where he gets his experience from. The design of the Casetop is versatile and the timeline is solid, especially with the research done on connectivity with current generation smartphone devices.

Toonari Post (TP): How are you ensuring that your product is of the highest available quality?

John Andrus (JA): I have been in the tech industry repairing laptops, using laptops, taking them apart for 10+ years. I know them inside and out, and what makes a good laptop. We’ll be working with established factories that perhaps have made laptops before, but not like this. We’re using osmeon. I’ll be on the ground floor inspecting the process completely to make sure it meets the correct standards and that each one comes off the line looking and working good. Dragon Innovations has a ton of experience dealing with factories and negotiations, and we are completely comfortable with their experience.

TP: What will be available in terms of repairs for the Casetop?

JA: Everything. Every single part can be replaced by the end user, as long as are a bit DIY. If they don’t want to fix anything themselves, we will have a $10 install fee, plus shipping there and back to replace any part for the customer. We will be charging OUR cost for replacement parts. Also, if yours is damaged beyond reasonable repair, we’ll buy back the parts that are still good from you and give you store credit for a new one!

TP: Are you eventually going to look into a line of Casetop accessories?

JA: Yes, totally. We’re planning on 40 Frontbar options to be released a couple months after shipping the Casetop orders to backers. We already have preliminary partnerships with Speechware for a dictation Frontbar, and LinuxonAndroid for a whole Linux computer Frontbar.

We are also going to be looking at user upgrades, such as better screens, outdoor screens, more batteries, etc.

TP: What is your timeline as of now and how do you plan on fulfillment of all the orders?

JA: 1-2 months of production design, betas, etc

1 month of production line ramp up

1-2 months of final production, shipping, packaging

We’re shooting for December if we are successful with our Kickstarter. We do not need any circuitboard R&D or display technology. We can hit our goals, and will try to do so as the 1st priority.

TP: Current generation users will want to know about Galaxy S3 and S4 connectivity as well as for the Note 2. I remember mention that they are MHL connected? What sort of connectivity S3 users expect to have?

JA: Yes, you’re right about using MHL, but Samsung decided to make their own MHL for just two phones. The Galaxy S3 and Note 2. The S4 works out of the box but you need a ’11-pin MHL to 5-pin MHL’ converter that we’ll be selling for the GS3 and Note 2 to work. It’ll be under $20 and you can get it from a lot of sources, not just us. If you search that phrase in quotes there, you’ll have a lot of options.

TP: What can you tell me about safeguarding the Casetop for future use? How sure are you that your current set of connectors will be applicable for the next 10 years? 

JA: Basically the answer is that much like HDMI has been around for 15 years already and it isn’t going to stop any time soon. Also, MHL has just begun being used and it is also estimated to last at least 10 years. Changing cable standards is like changing direction on a moving ship, it takes a long time. One of our secrets, though if it does change, is the Frontbar technology. It allows us to add things like Apple’s Airplay wireless video with no difficulty and other ‘active’ technologies to simply another Frontbar model. So the answer is twofold. Number one, standard cables last a really long time in the market; as more people who use it, the harder it is to replace the cable standard. Second, the Frontbar technology allows us to expand the Casetop even further. We have 17 planned Frontbar models right now, how many more will be created! So, even if I wasn’t 100% sure how long the connectors would last (which I am), the Frontbar is our way forward too.

The article Technology Realized: John Andrus, Livi Design Interview Part 2 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The changing face of technology and mobile electronics in particular means that today a cellphone has the capability to write, save and send entire drafts worth of writing. They can play richly colored high definition movies and process huge amounts of gaming data. The only problem is that screens are smaller than a tablet and so are the keyboards. Until now.

John Andrus of Livi Design is currently kickstarting a project using the power of the smart phone called the Casetop. Relying on the mass availability of smartphones, the Casetop is a 12 inch screen connected to a laptop battery that is missing the processor. The smartphone is then plugged into an existing series of adapters in the Casetop sliding frontbar and becomes the processor for this on the go smart device. Smaller than a traditional laptop, while still using a 720p resolution screen and charging the smart phone while in use, the Casetop changes the way consumers use computer technology at home, at the office or on the go.

Toonari Post was able to contact John Andrus about his project.

Toonari Post (TP): Give us more detail into what your product does. You’ve said online that you want to replace the net book?

John Andrus (JA): The Casetop replaces a normal laptop for the majority of the population, and unlike laptops it’s completely upgradable. Simply buy a new phone and you have just upgraded your Casetop for free! No normal laptop lets you do that, and certainly no netbook. Apple doesn’t even let you upgrade the memory on its new laptops! It also replaces extended batteries, as 30 hours of battery life is 15 TIMES the life of a standard laptop. And it lasts 3-4 TIMES longer then a laptop. You can use it for around 10 years! All for $250? That’s why we say it’s inexpensive.

TP: What are the dimensions of the standard front bar version as opposed to a side mounted version?

JA: The dimensions are the same in all areas, except the side mounted version adds 4-5mm on the bottom of the Casetop and 1mm to the side (when closed). 152 more mm when open on the side.

TP: Would a side mounted version require a heavy redesign to move the ports around?

JA: No, the side mounted version simply requires a new Frontbar (which you can choose for free). The cables will reach all areas, and have been designed to support side mounted Frontbars.

TP: You’ve mentioned sustainability, education and businesses that will be impacted. What are the real world applications for the Casetop?

JA: 1. Note taking, Word, Excel, Powerpoint and other business applications work perfectly on the Casetop, but your mobility is increased a lot. It’s lighter than some notebooks, and if you don’t have to carry any powercords or anything, it’s a lot easier to manage.

2. You can watch close to 9 movies without charging! Camping anyone?

3. Charge your phone away from the mains power. If you’re in the bush, charge your phone every evening if you wish, it’ll give you at least 6 FULL charges from empty.

4. Sustainability: Reducing E-Waste is the number one thing the Casetop does. No more netbooks being thrown out after 2 years, this causes a ton of e-waste. If you use the Casetop for even just 8 years, you have saved 3 additional laptops from landfills.

5. Sustainability: Less waste by not being obsolete. You can upgrade your phone and not throw out any Casetop accessories or the Casetop. That’s big.

TP: What do you envision Casetop doing for the future of technology?

JA: 1. I believe the Casetop will force manufacturers to think of the consumer and reducing e-waste again. Apple doesn’t even allow memory upgrades any more, and doesn’t let you replace the battery!

2. People will assume that universal accessories are possible, and wanted. Manufacturers will try to maintain standards, like TV manufacturers do.

3. Cars can integrate the technology for storing radio settings, seat settings, power limits for teenagers all into your phone using the same technology.

4. New versions of the Casetop could fold into a fraction of its size to fit in your pocket, and we have that technology today.

TP: What keyboard options are being considered at this time?

JA: 1. QWERTY

2. AZERTY

3. Other keyboard types that have the same key locations as QWERTY, with stickers.

TP: How does the Casetop charge its large 6 cell laptop style battery? How long will it take to charge?

JA: The Casetop will take at least 2 hours to charge with our laptop-style barrel-type charger. This can be improved in the future, and we may work on that for the Kickstarter Backer versions. We actually have 10 prismatic cells, so we can possibly charge each cell simultaneously. This means 1 hour tops.

TP: I’d still like to have more concrete answers as to how big Casetop is. Is it a 12 inch or 14 inch screen?

JA: The Casetop is going to be almost as thin as a macbook air, and it’s an 11.1 inch screen, so probably a 12 inch bag is good.

TP: What options are you currently considering for the pro models?

JA: We are considering thicker plastic, more metal in the construction, we are also looking at more cables and longer cables too. And black. Perhaps an extra Frontbar if we can swing it.

Part 2 of our interview with John Andrus talks about how the Casetop is designed for durability, production time frames and future-proofing the Casetop design.

The article Technology Realized: John Andrus, Livi Design Interview Part 1 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Part 2 of the Toonari Post interview with author Wesley Chu talks about the sequel called The Death of Tao as well as some of the motivations behind the storytelling and plot of The Lives of Tao. His tour dates, which both San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con, are sure to please fans on both sides of the coast who are eager to meet this debut author.

Toonari Post (TP): Beside the mental connection, are there any sort of alien powers that a host will eventually gain? Was it a conscious move to keep things as close to human ability level as possible?

Wesley Chu (WC): I think it depends on your definition of alien powers. Will any hosts with Quasing ever be able to fly, launch fireballs, or climb walls? No. It’s not that kind of story. Physically, the host never acquires any special abilities. This was a conscious choice and one of the first rules I created for this universe. I wanted Roen’s development to really be his own. There are no easy outs like in ‘Wanted’ or ‘Matrix’ where you have an inherent gene to be the ultimate assassin or a program to instantly make you an awesome operative. Roen had to train and earn his stripes to become an agent. No doubt Tao guided and cheerleaded him on, but I wanted him to own his achievements and failures.

However, having an infinitely wise alien has its own perks. For example, Tao invented Tai Chi, can speak dozens of languages, and can code in Java. And let’s not forget millions of years of experience in life, war, and wisdom to draw upon. That knowledge is as powerful of a super power as any I can think of.

(TP): Additionally, why did you choose to give the aliens the ability to feel emotions after their many thousands of years in human hosts?

(WC): The relationship between Roen and Tao isn’t one way. It’s not the alien ordering the pathetic human around all day. Sometimes, the alien does order the pathetic human around, but it’s the human’s decision to follow those orders. The Quasing can’t really control the body (unless under special circumstances) so they need to work together as a team.

Several of my beta readers pointed that out to me that sometimes the aliens act very human. If these aliens are all so old and wise, shouldn’t they act like all-wise beings? Now, I could have portrayed the Quasings like Vulcans, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that in a symbiotic relationship, influence should spreadboth ways. If anything, I would think it’d be unnatural that after thousands of years interacting with humans, the Quasings didn’t get some human cooties rubbed on them.

(TP): How has the fan reception been so far?

(WC): The early reviews are just rolling in and fan support has been fantastic. You never realize how much fan enthusiasm and feedback means to a writer until it’s your book that they’re talking about. So please, hit me up on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook; I’d love to hear from you.

(TP): When can readers expect a sequel to this sci-fi tale?

(WC): Due to some early fantastic reviews for The Lives of Tao, the ill-tempered robot overlords have bumped the release date of The Deaths of Tao up from February to October 29, 2013. The book is currently on my editor’s desk lock, loaded, and ready to go. As for the third book, well, it depends on how well the first two are received. So remember people, only you can make The Rebirth of Tao (title tbd) happen!

(TP): Will the second book also feature Roen’s character in keeping with a thriller style book or will Lives of Tao vol.2 add another character to Tao’s long history? If the next book is a different character, will it be a female protagonist?

(WC): The second book will still have Roen as the protagonist, but he’s got company.The sequel has three concurrent plotlines. Besides Roen, there will be a female protagonist. She’s a political operative maneuvering within the ranks of Congress as a high ranking aide to a Senator. Her job is to promote legislation friendly toward Prophus initiatives and to prevent the Genjix from taking over the US government.

Enzo, the last POV is the new antagonist. He’s a real son of a b***h if I may say so myself. An Adonis Vessel, he’s a genetically chosen human nurtured to be the perfect vessel for the Genjix. Intelligent, ruthless, and a physical specimen (like the quarterback, valedictorian, AND homecoming king of your high school), he’s f-ing better than you and he’ll make sure you know it. He does have some flaws though…

(TP): What are your convention tour dates? I’m sure the fans will want to meet you!

(WC): It’s my debut year so I’m trying to do it right. Here’s my entire convention schedule for 2013. Please, feel free to hit me up any time and say hi. If you wish to challenge me to a duel, I only fight with rope darts or in a game of Munchkin.

Wiscon                         May 25-27               Madison

SDCC                           July 18-21                San Diego

Readercon                    Jul 11-14                 Boston

GenCon                       Aug 15-18                 Indianapolis

Lonestarcon                Aug 29-Sep 2          San Antonio

NYCC                           Oct 11-14                   NYC

World Fantasy Con    Oct 31- Nov 3           Brighton, UK

Image credit: Chuforthought.com

The article The Lives of Tao Interview with Debut Author Wesley Chu Part 2 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Lives of Tao is one of the newest entries to the growing list of writers writing across multiple genre styles. Roen Tan is your average out-of-shape IT guy working a repetitive job, but his life changes when a millennia old intergalactic intelligence embroil him into an alien civil war taking place on earth. Wesley Chu is the author of this alien meets espionage thriller novel and he has received high praise from many reviewers.

Toonari Post recently got the chance to speak with Wesley Chu and he provided insight into not only his writing process but who he is as a writer. He has a background in martial arts which makes his combat sequences authentic while skills as a former stuntman make action all the more realistic. Our interview answers multiple questions from fans, including when he’ll be doing convention appearances as well as talking about The Death of Tao, the sequel currently in the works.

Toonari Post (TP): Tell readers more about who you are. Where are you from and what are some of your proudest accomplishments.

Wesley Chu (WC): I’m a member of the Screen Actors Guild and a former stuntman specializing in being token Asian dude in underwear commercials, hospital wellness brochures, and getting my butt kicked. When I’m not being said token Asian, I’m busy playing your doctor or computer geek, because those are the really important roles that demand the specific skill sets of the Asian man in film and television. Oh, once I made out with a model on a Santana music video. [In my best Borat voice] High five! They must have miscast me for that one.

Oh yeah, and I wrote a book. My debut novel, The Lives of Tao, published by Angry Robot Books, dropped April 30, 2013. I had a book release party May 4 at NV Penthouse Lounge in Chicago IL.

As for my proudest accomplishment, getting The Lives of Tao published is pretty high up there. I might have to give numero uno to bagging the “yes” on the marriage proposal, but otherwise, this comes in second. And because I’m pretty sure my wife will read this, it’s a completely distant, distant far back second.

(TP): How did you get into writing? What is your primary motivation?

(WC): I think most writers can’t help but write. It was something inherent that I gravitated toward as a kid. I mean, let’s face it; if I could choose my natural talent, it wouldn’t be writing. I’d pick something like punting and have the best job in the world. Yes, the NFL punter is the best job in the entire frigging world. You’re part of a professional football team; that’s cool, right? No one is allowed to hit you, and no one ever expects you to win the game. I mean come on, what could possibly be better than that?

But writing, not incredible leg strength or genius intellect or incredible good looks, was what the muses doled out to me. I wanted to write since I was a little kid and my English Professor father, in typical Asian parenting fashion, told me that my first short story I wrote in second grade “didn’t suck.” And as you know, when an Asian parent says you don’t suck at something, you must be pretty decent at it.

(TP): How did you plan out all of your fight scenes in The Lives of Tao? Was it done storyboard style or were things done organically in your head? How much help was your martial arts back ground for these scenes?

(WC): Martial Arts and experience in stunt work has been a huge help in building realistic fight scenes. Being able to visualize the flow, positioning, and impact of a melee gave me a unique perspective when putting it on paper. And as an added bonus, I was told I described the feel of concussions very well. Hmm… I wonder why.

I choreographed and can re-enact every fight scene in the book. Wait, scratch that. I used to be able to re-enact every fight scene in the book. I’m not quite as limber anymore. One of the fight scenes actually happened in real life. Well, technically, it wasn’t an actual fight. Someone tried to rob me with a knife and then I found some empty wine bottles and tried to rob him. We ended up calling it a draw.

(TP): Did you want Roen to always appear to be the underdog in combat? If so why?

(WC): Definitely not. The Lives of Tao is as much a coming-of-age story as it is about an alien civil war over control of humanity’s evolution. The sequel, The Deaths of Tao, takes place several years later. Without giving too much away, Roen becomes an experienced and rebellious agent. He’s no longer a wide-eyed rookie but a deadly operative with a chip on his shoulder, so the way he approaches fights is much different than he did in The Lives of Tao. But then, no matter how good you are, there’s always someone better (I read that on a cereal box in Taiwan).

Our interview with Wesley Chu continues in Part 2 where we’ll answer tour dates and touch on new characters.

Image credit: Chuforthought.com

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This is the second part of the interview with the magazine Positively Smitten. Read the first part here.

The women behind the website tells us about theirs hopes for the future of Positively Smitten, challenges they faced making the website and more.

Toonari Post (TP): Why do you think that it is important for there to be websites like Positively Smitten for women to access?

Positively Smitten (PS): So often, magazines targeted for women tell us all the reasons we’re not good enough while simultaneously telling us what we need to do to make ourselves acceptable. Articles are about how to get a man and then how to keep him – the overall message is that women aren’t good enough as they are, and even once they are, they have to keep working at it. Positively Smitten exists to tell women they’re wonderful as is. You don’t need to lose those last 10 pounds to be beautiful in our eyes, although if you want to, more power to you! Positively Smitten is about acceptance and support. It’s about building a community where women can share their genuine experiences and feel appreciated. (Liz Reddinger, Managing Editor)

TP: What do you think you (and everyone involved in making the website) have personally gained from it?

PS: We’re so incredibly lucky in that right now we’ve got three dedicated staff writers who are part of this – and literally doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Lyndsey, Amy, and Kendra have been great additions to the magazine and I hope seeing their writing on Positively Smitten, and seeing how overwhelmingly positive the responses have been, makes them feel that their work and thoughts are valued. I know Liz, Steph, and I can’t thank them enough. And our contributors! They’ve all been completely fantastic, so I hope they’ve taken away a sense of accomplishment from their involvement with the magazine.

As for the three of us, I think we’ve each taken different things away from this. It’s certainly helped strengthen our friendships. It’s challenging to work on a project, but it’s even more challenging when it’s a project you and three friends are collaborating on from different states, in your spare time, while you juggle full-time jobs and the rest of that thing called life. But it’s so rewarding. I feel so close to these girls and I know, personally, I would not have been able to do this on my own. For me, this website has also shown our resilience and determination – as a team. Our personalities complement each other’s and when one of us is feeling weighed down by responsibilities, the other two are there to carry that load for a while. It’s so nice. I feel like together, the three of us can conquer anything. (Crystal Maldonado, Co-Founder, Editor)

TP: Have you faced any challenges or difficulties in producing the website? If so, how have you overcome them?

PS: We are still very new in the grand scheme of things – our site just launched March 1. We were extremely flattered and surprised by the amount of support right from the start, including bringing on writers very quickly! Because of our strong following as a fledgling website, we didn’t have much time to devise a marketing strategy to keep these new followers interested. That has certainly been a challenge. Recently, we’ve joined as many different social media accounts as we could to help spread the word. We divide the tasks and conquer to stay on top of it all. (Stephanie Wilcox, Co-Founder, Editor)

TP: What advice would you give other women thinking of using the internet to get their voices across?

PS: Be clear about your intention and mission, and know what makes you unique. Don’t be afraid to be yourself because ultimately this is what will set you apart. Don’t try and replicate something that’s already out there – instead, use your voice in an authentic way. (Liz Reddinger, Managing Editor)

TP: What are your hopes for the future of your website?

PS: I’d be lying if I didn’t admit we all secretly dream of someday having our own offices where we get to work next to one another and we have a full staff and we’ve been interviewed by Oprah. But I think, ultimately, the three of us would be pleased just knowing that Positively Smitten has impacted some of our readers, whether it’s in making them feel like they’re less alone, or providing a useful life tip, or making them stop to think about an issue they hadn’t questioned before.

We really want to make a difference, and we want to change how not only other people view women, but how we view each other and ourselves. Forgot these stereotypes about women – we just want to show we’re all real and everyone’s life experience is different and that’s okay. And if Oprah decides to someday come knocking on our door, offering to buy us up and give us a nice little office, we’d never turn it down. (Crystal Maldonado, Co-Founder, Editor)

‘Positvely Smitten’ is a wonderful reminder of how great a resource the internet is for people, women in particular, to speak up about issues that they find important. Their value for the average women is heart-warming and I think that you should check out their website www.positively-smitten.com to support and find out more about them.

Look out for the next article in the series ‘Women’s Voices in New Media’ where Toonari Post will have another interview with a woman centered website.

Image credit: Positively Smitten Magazine via Facebook

The article Women’s Voices in New Media: Positively Smitten Part 2 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Women all over the world can relate to the feeling of their voices not being heard. Although we make up around half of the world population, sometimes it seems we don’t exist. We have struggled for equality for years, and yet in many countries we are still being paid less, not achieving the best job positions, and constantly criticized by the media, men and even our own gender. But the fight to have our voices heard is far from over: new media has enabled women with the same opportunity to be heard and make a difference.

‘Positively Smitten’ is one such website. Toonari Post was fortunate enough to get an interview with Crystal Maldonado, Stephanie Wilcox, Co-Founders and Editors, and Liz Reddinger, Managing Editor.

Toonari Post (TP): What influenced you to make Positively Smitten?

Positively Smitten (PS): We really wanted to create an online magazine that supported women. There are so many blogs and magazines out there that target women, but we felt many of them gave conflicting messages about self-acceptance. At the end of day, the magazines didn’t make me (or any of us) feel represented. The result was unproductive; I walked away feeling like I had all of these things I wanted and needed to change about myself. As much as I loved these magazines, I didn’t feel they were meant for me, and it became a dream of all of ours, independently, to create our own magazine at some point.

Steph, Liz, and I all grew up writing; Steph and I actually pursued journalism (and women’s studies!) in college. We felt our experience was, at the very least, a strong foundation to tackle a magazine of our own. We have been consumers of magazines aimed at our gender since we were young girls, yet we felt there was a void in mainstream media that we could fill. (Crystal Maldonado, Co-Founder, Editor)

TP: What type of people do you have working on the website?

PS: As far as leadership goes, the three of us, as editors, are exactly the type of individuals we want to target with our articles. We all strive to be “positively smitten” with all aspects of our lives; that is, feeling engaged, proud, excited, amused, in control, and working toward the best version of ourselves possible. We want to acknowledge that all of us are a work in progress and have our flaws. If we want to encourage other women to be proud of who they are, even as flawed human beings, we need to lead by example. On our Founders page, we come right out and introduce ourselves immediately with our flaws and vulnerabilities.

Our current group of contributors are all very different, and that’s our strength. There are a mix of people in various life stages, with different careers, backgrounds, and lifestyles. We are even lucky to have Bill, our one male working on our graphics and branding, and he fully supports our mission .Working on this site, and writing for it, is fun, because there’s no holding back. We can be who we are. (Stephanie Wilcox, Co-Founder, Editor)

TP: What type of content do you include on your website?

PS: Our online magazine covers the following sections: Advice, Beauty, Career, DIY, Entertainment, Inspiration, Life, Relationships and Wellness. All articles are uplifting, positive and hopefully thought-provoking. Articles range from lighter, more fun topics like Springtime beauty staples, to media critiques analyzing diversity on television, to deeper topics like how to deal with the loss of a loved one. We aim to entertain, inspire, and make all women feel represented and welcomed. (Liz Reddinger, Managing Editor)

TP: Who are the people that your website is targeted towards?

PS: Right now, our entire staff is made up of women in their mid-twenties and early thirties, so I think a lot of the stories and experiences we’re sharing resonate with that age group. However, some subjects really do transcend age, especially when it comes to things like body acceptance and coping with the loss of a loved one or really learning to appreciate your family – all things we’ve covered. As much as we’re writing for ourselves, we’re also writing for the younger versions of ourselves, sharing things we wish we’d known or advice we wish we’d been given. And we’re writing for our future selves, or at least, women who are older than us now, but who can see themselves in us. We’ve been lucky to have readers and commenters of all ages; good writing with a message, which is ultimately what we’re striving for, can resonate with anyone. (Crystal Maldonado, Co-Founder, Editor)

Continue reading the rest of the interview with ‘Positively Smitten’ in the article Women’s Voices in New Media: Positively Smitten Part 2.

Image credit: Positively Smitten Magazine via Facebook

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Adam Johnson won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel The Orphan Master’s Son. The book is set in North Korea and follows the life of Jun Do, son of the Orphan Master, as he rises through the ranks. He eventually becomes one of Kim Jong-il’s greatest threats and must risk his life to try to help his wife and stepchildren escape the nation.

Johnson is the author of two previous works: the novel Parasites Like Us and the short story collection Emporium. The Orphan Master’s Son is Johnson’s first book in nearly nine years and was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Critics Circle Award.

The finalists for this year were Nathan Englander’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, a collection of short stories dealing with Jewish life, and The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, a novel about a couple living in Alaska.

Both Englander and Johnson’s book were discussed previously as potential Pulitzer Prize winners by Toonari Post, and the list that was used for the Pulitzer Prize predictions had The Orphan Master’s Son ranked as the fourth most likely book to win.

Controversially, no award for Fiction was given last year because the judges decided that none of the finalists were deserving of the award.

The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is the most prestigious American literary prize. Past winners include Ernest Hemingway, Saul Bellow John Steinbeck, Junot Diaz and Jennifer Egan. Only one American author, William Faulkner, has won the Nobel Prize for Literature, the most prestigious literary prize in the world, without first winning the Pulitzer. However, Faulkner went on to win two Pulitzers.

Winners must be U.S. citizens, and the winner of the history category must have written a book about American history. The other winners this year were Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam by Fredrik Logevall for history, Stag’s Leap by Sharon Olds for poetry, The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss for the biography or autobiography, and Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys by Gilbert King for general nonfiction.

The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded for achievements in journalism, literature, and music. They were established in 1917 and are managed by Columbia University. The full list of winners is available here.

Winners receive a certificate and $10,000. Fiction prizewinners usually go on to become bestsellers after the announcement. The prizes will be presented at Columbia University on May 30.

Image credit: The Orphan Master’s Son via Facebook

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Who will win this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? One website has created an algorithm designed to predict who will win and successfully predicted Jennifer Egan’s win in 2011 for her book, A Visit From the Goon Squad. In the weeks leading up to the award’s announcement (April 15), Toonari Post will be reviewing several of the more discussed books from last year and try to see which book, above all others, deserves the award.

Two of the most discussed books this year were The Round House by Louise Erdrich and The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson, and it is not hard to see why. Both are phenomenal novels, and very likely one of these authors will come away with the award.

The Round House is the story of a rape and the subsequent trial of a Native American woman living on a reservation. Narrated through the eyes of her adolescent son, the novel deals primarily with racial injustice. It is comparable to Harper Lee’s masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird, and has become a favorite with the general public.

Ironically, the book’s big success could spell its doom for the Pulitzer: late last year it won the National Book Award, and although it is not unprecedented, books rarely win both awards. The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx, published in 1993, was the last book to accomplish this feat. Could the literary strength of The Round House help it break a 20-year curse? It is more than possible.

The Orphan Master’s Son is the about the life of the fictional Jun Do, an orphan in North Korea who slowly rises through the ranks to become one of the most powerful men in the country. It is a brilliant achievement and a break out book for author Adam Johnson, who has previously published a collection of short stories entitled Emporium and the novel Parasites Like Us. Through the horror of the North Korean regime, Johnson is able in his latest book to create a book that is part thriller, part love story, part internal crisis and much more. There is something here for everyone to enjoy.

However, the Pulitzer Prize primarily deals with books that deal with American ideals and citizens. Although part of the book is set in Texas and North Korea is constantly compared and contrasted with the US in the book, it could be simply not American enough to win. There have been exceptions before, though, and the massive scope of the book is comparable to the sprawling plot lines of previous Pulitzer winners, so only time will tell if the judges decide the book features enough American “values” to merit the award.

Stay tuned at Toonari Post for more Pulitzer news and the reveal of the winners on April 15.

Image credit: jenniferegan.com

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Who will win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? One website has created an algorithm designed to predict who will win and successfully predicted Jennifer Egan’s win in 2011 for her book, A Visit From the Goon Squad. In the weeks leading up to the award’s announcement (April 15), Toonari Post will be reviewing several of the more discussed books from last year and try to see which book, above all others, deserves the award.

In 2009, the winner, Tinkers by Paul Harding, was nowhere to be found on the list on pprize.com. It had received no nominations for other major prizes, and shown up on only a few “best-of” lists.

Today, Toonari Post will be examining dark horse candidates. What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander made a splash when it was published, but since then its chances of winning the prize have diminished dramatically. Kind One by Laird Hunt is the opposite: until its nomination for the Pen/Faulkner Award, few had heard of it.

Englander’s book, a collection of short stories, focuses on Jewish life—life as an assimilated American, life as an unassimilated American, life in Israel. As you might expect, religion is present in all of them. Despite this, the stories are all quite different. One focuses on a band of kids trying to get revenge on the local anti-Semite, another on an aging writer and his waning fanbase. The title story is about a wife seeing an old friend from Hebrew school who has since moved to Israel. It is similar, both in its language and in its characters, to the short story that provided the inspiration for its title, Raymond Carver’s famous “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.”

The prose is at times unrefined (“She and Mark ran off to Israel twenty years ago and turned Hassidic, and neither of them will put a hand on the other in public. Not for this. Not to put out a fire”) but full of character; its unrefined nature is the point.

The short story collection would be a worthy winner of the award. If Englander does not win for this book, be on the lookout for future work by him. He is a writer worth keeping an eye on.

Laird Hunt’s Kind One is an interesting, Faulknerian work that will definitely confuse more than a few readers. It is an antebellum, southern gothic tale, told through multiple perspectives. The largest of these sections is from the eyes of Ginny, a girl married off to a lying widower.

At times, characters seem to act not how they would naturally be expected to, but rather how the author needs them to act in order to move the story along. The multiple perspectives also seem overdone towards the end, where characters the reader thus far has never heard from suddenly get to voice their opinions for five pages and are then silenced. After hearing from one voice for a hundred pages, five pages seem a bit superfluous. A bit more editing and playing around with the story could have resulted in a tighter book. Although without a doubt Kind One deserves its nomination for the Pen/Faulkner Award, winning the Pulitzer seems a bit of a stretch for this book.

Stay tuned at Toonari Post for more Pulitzer Prize news and predictions in the days leading up to April 15.

Image credit: Howard County Library System via Flickr.com

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Of all American literary awards, none come close to matching the Pulitzer Prize for weight and prestige. Winners can expect to receive an astronomical boost in sales, and, aside from William Faulkner, no American has won the Nobel Prize for Literature without first earning a Pulitzer.

This leads many to speculate who the winner will be each year. Notably, one website has created an algorithm to predict who will win, and it successfully predicted Jennifer Egan’s 2011 win for her book, A Visit From the Goon Squad. In the weeks leading up to the award’s announcement Toonari Post will be reviewing several of the more discussed books from last year, and to try to see which book, above all others, deserves the award.

A Hologram for a King by Dave Eggers has been one of the more controversial books this year. It received glowing reviews from critics, but a quick visit to Amazon or Goodreads shows that the public is not too keen on the work. The plot features Alan Clay, an apathetic, divorced businessman, traveling to Saudi Arabia with his company’s hologram technology in order to impress the king and convince him to purchase the equipment. If Clay is successful he will receive more than enough money to pay off his many encroaching debts, but with the king never showing up to meetings, the pressure is building. The plot has been compared to Samuel Beckett and Franz Kafka, but without a single hint at anything fantastic, it is much more grounded in reality than the works of those authors.

The book has a high rank on pprize.com’s list due to several appearances in ‘best-of’ lists and a nomination for the National Book Award, but it seems doubtful it will win the author the Pulitzer. An examination of a failing businessman in Saudi Arabia juxtaposed with American businesses failing to compete with Chinese companies is interesting enough, but in the end, the whole narrative is forgettable. None of the characters are particularly memorable or well fleshed-out. The plot ends on an uncertain note, and, given Clay’s unfortunate predicament, this does not make a satisfying conclusion. In a year with so many strong books, it is unlikely this will be the one that wins the prize.

Kevin Powers’ debut novel, The Yellow Birds, has garnered similar praise from critics, although the pubic has been much kinder to it. Focused on the Iraq war, it tells the story of Pvt. Bartle and his friend, Murph, through chapters that alternate between the war and its aftermath. It is also very clichéd, but in this case that is not necessarily a bad thing. What sets Powers’ novel apart from the others is its language. Powers is a poet first and a novelist second, and it shows here, hinting at the language of William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway. Occasionally, the wording gets out of hand, but, other than a few instances, is still pleasant enough to read.

The characters, while likable, never really develop. For example, all we learn about Murph is that he has a caring mother and a girl back home. The big reveal at the end is also anticlimactic. The book is not without its faults, but it has a definite shot at the Pulitzer Prize.

Stay tuned at Toonari Post for more Pulitzer Prize news and predictions in the days leading up to April 15.

Photo credit: PurpleCar via Flickr.com

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Shopping in Lisbon doesn’t always mean going to large luxury malls of well branded trademarks and high quality products. In some areas in Lisbon there are street markets open on specific days of the week or the month. Some of these markets are specified for a certain group of products and some of them sell every possible thing.

Feira Do Relogio (literally means The Clock Fair) is the largest street market in Lisbon, which occurs every Sunday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The market contains different stalls to sell products ranging from toys and clothes to meat and fishes. The prices are not fixed, so it is the best place to experience traditional bargaining and to shop in a Portuguese way. The market can be reached using the Metro’s red line to the Bela Vista metro station and also by public buses.

Feira da Ladra (literally means Flea Market) is another street market located in Alfama, the oldest district in the city. The main products of the market are electronics, computer hardware and software. Also, many other products can be found. Some of the items are new, while others are second hand. It is good distention for coin and stamp collectors. The market occurs every Saturday and Tuesday from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. It can be reached by the Tram 28 and is a walkable distance from the Santa Apolónia metro station blue line.

Príncipe Real Jardim (Príncipe Real garden) is a street market of a different type. Every Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, an organic food market occurs in the garden. The prices of the organic food in the market are much cheaper than expected when buyers hear the word organic. Fruits and vegetables can found in the market as well as wines, vinegars and olive oils. The garden can be reached by metro using the blue line to Avenida metro station. as well as public buses.

Novo & Antigo market (literally means New and Old Market) is a street market that occurs every first and third Sunday of the month in the cultural center of Belém. The products of this market var from coins and stamps to books and electronics; also, this market is well organized so the visitor, will not miss any part.

The current failing economic situation of Portugal and the high unemployment rate in the country let the street markets be very popular among not only the tourists but also the local residents of the country who are looking for cheaper prices, regardless of the quality of the products.

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The prestigious National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction was awarded to Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain, it was announced last month. Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon won for nonfiction; The Passage of Power, the fourth volume in Robert A. Caro’s study on Lyndon B. Johnson, won for biography; Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton took home the award for autobiography; Stranger Magic by Marina Warner for criticism; and D.A. Powell’s collection Useless Landscape, or A Guide for Boys won the poetry prize.

The only winners in attendance were Andrew Solomon and Ben Fountain. “I really wanted to write a book about love,” said Solomon upon accepting the award, thanking his editors at the publishing company Scribner. Far from the Tree, a gigantic tome of a work, examines how parents raise children very different from themselves—such as those who are deaf or autistic. Solomon has previously won the National Book Award for his work The Noonday Demon.

Strange Magic by Marina Warner examines the Arabian Nights and how studies of it have evolved over centuries.

Useless Landscape is D.A. Powell’s fifth book of poetry. It deals with topics ranging from Disneyland to the 1970s dance scene.

Caro’s long and intense study of Lyndon B. Johnson has already garnered numerous awards, with past volumes winning Pulitzers, a National Book Critics Circle Award and earlier National Book Awards. The Passage of Power focuses on Johnson’s vice-presidency and presidency up to 1964.

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk was previously a finalist for the National Book Award and is a likely candidate for the upcoming Pulitzer Prize. Taking place one Thanksgiving Day, the novel centers around eight soldiers and their tour through the Iraq war.

Past winners of the fiction award include John Updike and Jennifer Egan, and helped propel Toni Morrison and Jonathan Lethem to the forefront of literature. The award is unique among American book prizes in that finalists and winners do not have to be American citizens. Foreign writers such as W.G. Sebald and Roberto Bolano have the award to thank for much of their popularity in America.

Not too long after that announcement, the winner of the 33^rd PEN/Faulkner Award was also announced. Benjamin Alire Saenz won for his collections of short stories, Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. The other finalists were Threats by Amelia Gray, Kind One by Laird Hunt, Hold it ‘Til it Hurts by T. Geronimo Johnson, and Watergate by Thomas Mallon.

Interestingly, all of the nominees were notably obscure, with none of them receiving nominations for other awards or appearing much in the media’s “Best Of” lists.

Past winners include Mao II by Don DeLillo, The Hours by Michael Cunningham and The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. Notably, Philip Roth has won three PEN/Faulkner Awards for his novels Operation Shylock, The Human Stain and Everyman.

Finalists receive $5,000 and Mr. Saenz will take home $15,000. The award is to be presented officially on May 4 in Washington DC.

Image Courtesy: On Being

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On March 20, 2003, the United States and its coalition of allies invaded Iraq. Although the war was initially presented as a straightforward battle between freedom and tyranny, the moral milieu became a good deal murkier after Abu Ghraib and Haditha. In “9 Circles,” playwright Bill Cain invites the audience to look at the war through the lens of a single soldier’s experiences. It is a profoundly disquieting experience.

The title of the play references the nine circles of Hell in Dante’s “Inferno.” But while the play’s nine scenes are each called circles, they do not share the same themes as their counterparts in the “Inferno.”

The protagonist, Daniel Reeves (Stuart Mott), is a textbook example of an antihero. When we first meet him in Circle 1, he is about to receive an honorable discharge from the army due to a ‘personality disorder.’ It is difficult to know what to make of Reeves at first. With his Texan drawl and his “America Fuck Yeah” attitude, it is tempting to write him off as a buffoon. But at the same time, there are hints of underlying intelligence as well as underlying trauma.

From that point on, Reeves is on a downward spiral. He ends up in jail, accused of raping a 14-year old Iraqi girl and killing her along with her entire family. As he waits for a judge to decide his fate, he encounters various people who allegedly want to help him, from an enigmatic army lawyer (William Bolz) to a pastor with a penchant for internet porn (Whitney Derendinger). In a way, they play the role of Virgil to Reeves’ Dante, and each one of them helps guide Reeves along the path to self-discovery.

The best thing about “9 Circles” is that it explores the subject of war in a sophisticated manner. Instead of simply condemning Reeves as a monster and leaving it at that, it actually invites us to consider the extent to which he is also a victim of circumstances far beyond his control. Cain’s script is a treasure–a superb blend of erudition leavened with dark humor.

This production of “9 Circles” was part of Mott’s senior honors thesis at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. Choosing such a complex piece was something of a gamble, but it paid off handsomely. Mott has proven that he has some serious acting chops. Reeves spends most of the play in varying degrees of rage, yet Mott’s emotional intensity never faltered. And although Reeves is a character with few redeeming qualities, Mott did an excellent job of humanizing him.

Mott’s co-stars also delivered top-notch performances. The script required them to play multiple roles, and they did it with aplomb. Whitney Derendinger did a particularly nice job playing the profane pastor. There was a subtle undercurrent of menace throughout his performance, and Reeves spoke for the entire audience when he said “you are the god-damnest minister.”

Finally, Jakob Aebly deserves praise for his superb score. It was utterly haunting, and it really enhanced the action on stage.

Image courtesy of Dan Meyers.

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The world’s largest cowboy will be unveiled at this year’s State Fair of Texas. And as the saying goes, ‘Everything is bigger in Texas’ and so is the new and improved Big Tex.

The redesigned Lone Star icon will now reign at 55 feet tall, an additional three feet in height from its previous bearing before being damaged, when an electrical box located near one of the cowboy’s boots caught on fire, in October.

According to the State Fair of Texas Vice President of public relations and community relations spokesperson, Sue Gooding, the icon will cost approximately $500 thousand to rebuild. As for the redesign of the area surrounding him, it estimates to be an additional half a million dollars.

Thus far in donations, the State Fair has received $46 thousand in private donations, which is anything from $1-20 thousand. Gooding said that even though there is $160 thousand available from the insurance policy and a $5 thousand deductible, with the developments requiring advanced engineering, it will cost a lot more.

“We are not replacing [Big Tex] with the exact design; that’s why it’s $500 thousand,” Gooding noted.

The new design will be a surprise to fairgoers; however, they did provide an input on what they’d like to see.

“The fairgoers wanted the icon to be recognizable, with the same facial features,” she said. “He will still have one out-stretched arm and one that is bent.”

Gooding said when he was damaged, the goal was to have him back for this year’s fair. “He hasn’t missed any of the years since he was first installed in 1952,” she said.

The first two days following the disaster, there were very large crowds that surrounded the area and took pictures of the remnants of Big Tex, said Gooding.

“Obviously the reaction when he was destroyed was really overwhelming,” Gooding sympathizes. “The whole event proved to be important to fairgoers and we heard loud and clear.”

Big Tex is scheduled to be unveiled at the State Fair of Texas opening day, Friday, September 27.

The fair will be held in Dallas in Fair Park from September 27 to October 20. For more information regarding the State Fair lineup and donations, visit the State Fair of Texas web site.

Image Courtesy : StevenM_61

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CrossFit, a workout and training program designed by Greg Glassman in 2001, is rapidly becoming the new way to get moving and into shape. Unlike fad diets, slim-quick schemes, and dusty gym memberships, CrossFit is a trainer-led program that focuses on strength, cardiovascular conditioning, and “…simply to ensure the broadest and most general fitness possible” as stated by Glassman in The CrossFit Journal Classics.

The program is so general that military training and police academies use it, yet the average man or woman is still able to pick up the routines.

CrossFit is a brand name, and the program works out of 5,500 affiliated gyms and through over 35,000 certified CrossFit trainers, according to the official website.

So how and why does CrossFit work? The first thing those looking into it should know is, that the method is intense. Each day the official website puts up a Workout of the Day, or WOD, and an explanation. Though it is possible to do at home, CrossFit trainers at affiliated gyms run most CrossFit programs, which means no more incorrect or ineffective workouts stemming from lack of know-how. The trainer leads and everyone does the same workout all together, like a group class, just at different speeds or with augmented actions to compensate for individual levels of fitness. The idea is to push your workout and yourself to do more than you could before.

The exercises, which require short periods of speed, lifting, gymnastics, and endurance, are designed to build power and energy seemingly through exhausting them. Workouts are in circuit form, one following immediately after the other, so calories are burned quickly. Unlike cardio-focused workouts, muscle is also built, but without the single-minded bulk of pure weight training. Workouts change daily, and are never quite the same twice consecutively, resulting in a continued interest to members. No muscle group is overlooked, no jump or kick left out, and every moment is a challenge for both the body and the mind.

One of the main differences between traditional gym time and CrossFit, is the community that has developed internationally and within individual gyms. Followers of the program actively aid one another through encouragement, offering support both on the mats and online through the company’s website. Sometimes, this atmosphere of encouragement and the never-quit mentality found in the program, can be more than a little intimidating to new-comers; but the program stresses that everyone can do the exercises with a little bit of prep work. After signing up with an affiliate, there is a one-month initiation course which serves to bring everyone to the necessary baseline fitness needed to successfully complete the circuits without serious risk of injury. This is a smart way to ease the body into the intensity and teach participants important workout basics they would not be taught in the traditional gym setting. Once complete, people join the general class and set the work building their bodies and some new friendships.

As with all workout programs, there are risks along with the rewards. Instead of the normal risk of losing interest or not seeing results due to lack of trying, CrossFit has the odd problem of people pushing themselves too much. Exhaustion and dehydration are the top problems seen in workouts, which by medical standards are easily preventable through drinking plenty of water and by not letting the ‘never-quit’ mantra be taken too literally.

CrossFit affiliates and locations can be found here, on the search page.

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Hostess is close to celebrating success as a handful of their popular snack brands, including Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos and Sno Balls, have been sold to two different investment firms. New owners predict that the favorite treats will be back on the shelves in the summer months.

The new owners are Metropoulous & Company and Apollo Global Management, who together paid $410 million for the cakes, five bakeries and some equipment. Hostess canceled further bidding, convinced that no one else could match the price Metropoulous and Apollo offered.

Metropoulos & Company is led by chief executive C. Dean Metropoulos and his sons, Daren and Evan. Metropoulos has had success with turning around Pabst Blue Ribbon in 2010, a beer more commonly known as P.B.R. With a net worth of $1.2 billion, the company is confident in renewing the success of Twinkies.

“Our family is thrilled to have the opportunity to reestablish these iconic brands with new creative marketing ideas and renewed sales efforts and investment,” Daren said in an email to Reuters on Tuesday. The sale has not yet completed, still needing further approval from judges, but it is expected to be done early next month.

Hostess was already struggling under chapter 11 bankruptcy for several years. The combination of unhealthy foods and the attempt at cutting costs ruined the business, and employees on strike due to high labor and pension expenses finished the deal. Hostess shut down when an agreement with workers couldn’t be reached, laying off thousands of workers.

According to Atlantic Wire, those workers probably won’t get their jobs back, due to the intent to “outsource delivery services and only use existing bakeries for production.”

Selling the revamped food will require new strategies. Apollo and Metropoulous do not plan to rely on union workers as the previous owners did.  “We look forward to discussing opportunities for our members with new ownership, and add value to the revival of these products,” the President of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, David Durkee, said.

They plan to sell to smaller chain stores, such as Dollar General, in addition to grocery stores. They also plan “healthier” options; following competitor strategies like Tastykake’s, the owners are planning 100-calorie snack packs and healthier ingredients. Metropoulous even expects sales through personal Twitter advocates like Will Ferrell (who has worked as a spokesman for Pabst before) and Zack Galifianakis, who may become a spokesman.

Fans of the snack cakes will see their favorite items return for sale in the summer months. Ebay still reports attempted sales of up to $250,000 for two boxes just last week, and the bids are selling.

Hostess is selling more products to other bidders, like the popular Wonder Bread and other snack cake names. Others, such as Drake’s or Sweetheart, are set for auction on Friday. Grupo Bimbo, owner of Entenmanns and Sara Lee, paid $31.9 million for Beefsteak bread.

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‘20-Something’ is an inspirational documentary written and produced by independent film maker, Lanze Spears. It follows five 20- something-year-olds across four different cities in America as they share their stories, experiences and desires to succeed in the creative industry.

We first meet Anastasia, a confident actress from Tuscaloosa, who says that from the age of four she wanted to be an actress in LA. Then there’s Sean from Atlanta, an artist who says that his art is for the people. Afterwards we are introduced to Claire and Mike, who are both in Savannah. Claire works in the fashion world while Mike is script writer. And finally there is Taylor, an artist living and working in New York.

Each person has a unique personality and story to share with the audience. And there is something to gain from watching each one.

Their stories are inspirational. We watch these young individuals fight and work hard for their dreams; it encourages others to do the same. Sean mentions that “I have an urge to create, so I create” and others can take this attitude and be motivated to go for their own dreams. Mike advises people to “trust yourself and don’t listen to anyone telling you that you can’t do something.” From watching this film, young people will be able to gain belief in themselves and their aspirations.

Their stories are relatable. It shows true stories of young people trying to find their feet in the world. They talk about feeling trapped in their small towns and wanting to succeed in the artistic industry in the big cities, such as LA. They face fears about graduating college, trying to find a job, changing their goals and discovering different passions. It is comforting for those who feel pressured by the real world and the unrealistic demand to know what you want to do as soon as you leave school.

Their stories reflect a positive view of the younger generation. These 20-something-year-olds are intelligent and hard-working. Sean talks about his aspiration to connect all different people in Atlanta through art and wants to do his own art shows. Claire mentions her goals to get into advertising. In a recent interview with Toonari Post, Lanze Spears says that he wanted to make something positive because there wasn’t anything positive on TV.

And ‘20-Something’ is visually interesting to watch. The handheld camera gives an intimate atmosphere to the documentary. It is as if you are there and talking directly to them, a personal feel. The variation of music and bright colors draw you in and your attention is captivated for the entire documentary.

‘20-Something’ is an amazing documentary that everyone should watch, especially young people. It depicts real people and their stories. It shows the highs and lows of trying to make it in a very competitive job market through personal points of view, and you get an interesting understanding of many industries that you may not be aware of. Most of all, it is a pleasure to watch.

Rated 5/5 Stars – for compelling stories, fantastic soundtrack and an inspirational message

Image Courtesy : Lanzespears

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Toonari Post was fortunate enough to be able to interview the writer and producer of the inspirational series ‘20-Something,’ Lanze Spears. He talks about what inspired him to produce this documentary, how the experience helped him as a film maker and what he hoped young people will gain from his documentaries.

Toonari Post (TP): What inspired you to make this documentary? Why did you choose to do it on a group of 20 something year olds?

Lanze Spears (LS): I graduated Art school in 2009 and moved back in with my parents. I was doing a lot of different odd jobs, like overnight shifts and janitor work, and I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. I had a film degree but there weren’t any film opportunities that I could find. I started saving up film equipment for about a year and in the following year, I quit the jobs and then just traveled and trained for a couple of weeks; visiting all of these different cities and trying to interview other 20-somethings who were going through a similar experience. I also thought about the stuff out there, on television – there wasn’t really anything positive about young people.

TP: What persuaded you to choose those five individuals in particular? What attracted you to their stories?

LS: They all went to the same college that I did, and when I initially wanted to make the film, I wanted to make like a two hour film and have different cities and lots of different people. They were the only people who got back to me and took the project seriously. Also, I thought that a lot of their stories were really interesting. They’re all from different places. I felt like a lot of people, especially 20 somethings, could relate to being from a small place and then trying to venture out and have dreams and goals. That’s more relatable, opposed to a lot of things on TV; I feel like a lot of young people can’t relate to. It’s more inspiring because they feel like they can relate and see themselves in the stories.

TP: Did you feel like you connected to the stories on a personal level?

LS: I did. I was trying to figure out my own life after I graduated from school. Once I started to get the film equipment together and working on different projects, I wanted to make something positive and uplifting. I think that when people watch the film they are also seeing my journey because I am holding the camera and I am in every different city. Even after finishing the film I had to work doing janitor stuff just to pay off the music licensing and to build the website. So my own journey still continued even after the films was finished.

TP: Do you feel like it’s important to inspire young people to reach for their dreams?

LS: Definitely. The CD cover is drawn like a cartoon. That idea was inspired by people having an idea of where they want to go with their goals and dreams. And the more you go after it, the dream seems to shape itself around your reality. Each person that I filmed felt like there’s something that they’re holding on to; some kind of image of themselves in their head that’s keeping them going. So it’s more about allowing kids to realize that no matter what people tell them, and no matter what ups and downs that happen, they should hold onto the image they have of their future selves and never let go of it. Over time it will manifest.

TP: Is it true that you intend to produce a third video for the series?

LS: Right now I want to keep on hitting more colleges and go to more festivals to build the film up so more people can see it, but I definitely want to go to California too. But that would be mainly inspiring musicians. Eventually I want to go to different countries and create this positive movement, this positive brand that the youth can relate to it. California may be the next one I do in like a year or so.

TP: How will the film differ from the previous two?

LS: All of them will be similar in terms of the artistic style but they’re all different: it’s a different city, it’s a different location and there are different people. Each story is different and unique because each person is different and unique. And also every environment becomes its own character.

TP: What advice do you have for other young people who have been inspired to make their own films?

LS: Do it now. Do it now while you’re young. If you really feel like you’re a film maker, you’re a writer and you wake up every day thinking about that then you are it. If you’re really passionate about what you want to do just go out there and do it. Nothing is holding you back. I think that ‘20-Something’ was the biggest thing that taught me that. Before ‘20- Something’ I was slowly giving up on film and wondering if I should do something else, but it just showed me to go ahead and take the risk. Hopefully through this film other kids can see this and relate to it, adults as well. There have been adults who have seen it, and they said that it inspired them, even in their forties and fifties people still have goals and where they want to go.

TP: What’s the number one thing that you want viewers to gain from watching your documentaries?

LS: I want them to feel inspired. After they watch the film hopefully it could ignite something within themselves and make them think about their own lives. That was the whole point of ‘20- Something.’

TP: Do you have any more future projects that you are working on?

LS: I want to do similar films to ‘20-Something,’ but just different genres. I want to make more films that promote other artists out there. That was the whole point of making the soundtrack, the films also promoted musicians. I want to create a bigger community of musicians, dancers and bring it together through films. I also want to work on a social network that helps promote artists and get their work out there.

TP: Is there anything else that you would like to say to the readers of the Toonari Post?

LS: Anyone out there, no matter what age you are, continue to go after your dream. Fight for it. What’s the worst that can happen? If you don’t go after you dreams you are where you are now. I just hope people will continue to follow their dreams.

Image Courtesy : Lanzespears

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Well-known contemporary Japanese author and likely Nobel Prize candidate Haruki Murakami, will release a new book this April, according to his publisher. It will be his first book in three years since his mammoth 1Q84, which was originally released as a trilogy in Japan.

Details are scarce about the plot, but considering Murakami reuses the same themes in all his books, (to the point where the New York Times Book Review put together a “Haruki Murakami Bingo”) basic plot points can be pieced together. The main character will most likely be middle aged, enjoy drinking beer, feel alienated and lonely, and have an interest in old records. Cats will also make an appearance, as will teenage girls. Despite recycling similar themes and plots, Murakami has a large fanbase–1Q84 sold millions of copies worldwide.

It has been suggested that Murakami’s new work could be an expansion of the 1Q84 series. Murakami has said, “A fourth volume featuring an older ‘Tengo’ may come out…who knows.” Tengo starred as the male lead in the book. “What I can say now is there are stories before (volume 1) and after (volume 3).”

It is unclear if Murakami aims to write a new book or simply a few short stories, something he has done before. The title story in his collection Blind Woman, Sleeping Willow focuses on the protagonist of his novel, Norwegian Wood, several years after the events of that book.

It is highly likely that this upcoming book will be much shorter than 1Q84, given that the trilogy took him five years to pen.

Murakami’s varied influences may help explain his popularity with western readers compared to other Japanese authors. He spends his time reading writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Raymond Carver, Philip K. Dick, and Truman Capote, and also translated their works into Japanese. Most recently, during the composition of this current work, he translated Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. 

Although no translation has been commissioned yet, Murakami’s popularity makes it almost certain that one will appear eventually. However, fans who cannot read Japanese will probably have to wait two or three years to read it, the average time it takes translators to bring his works into English. In the meantime, bored readers can read through Murakami’s long list of other books: ten novels, three short story collections, two non-fiction works, and two out-of-print novellas (the first two stories he ever wrote). His most well-known works include Norwegian Wood, Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

Image Courtesy : Haruki Murakami

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Lisbon is a very rich city in Portugal with historical and cultural attractions. Some of the significant attractions in the city are located in Santa Maria de Belém, which is a civil parish (Freguesia in Portuguese) in Lisbon, also known as just Belém. Located about 6 kilometers to the west of Lisbon’s downtown, Belém is the Portuguese translation of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. The neighborhood’s founders copied the name from the Palestinian city to have a religious blessing from the city in which Jesus was born.

A real touring in Lisbon must include visiting the monuments in Belém. The attractions include Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), Torre de Belém (Tower of Belém), Museu De Marinha (Maritime Museum), Museu da Electricidade (Electricity Museum), Museu da Presidência da República (Presidential Museum), and Museu Berardo. Museu De Marinha is a museum for the Portuguese navigation history of different times since the 15th century up to present day.

Museu Berardo is a museum of modern and contemporary art located within the Centro Cultural de Belém (Belém Cultural Center) premise. The Belém Cultural Center is the largest cultural center in Portugal; it accommodates cultural and artistic events around the year such as exhibitions, conferences, operas and ballets. Museu da Electricidade is a museum presenting the energy-development history in Portugal and promoting renewable energy to the visitors. The Museu da Presidência da República compound was the residence of the Portuguese royal family before establishing the republic; after that it became the official President of the Portuguese republic. In 2006 the government decided to convert the building to a national Monument.

Jerónimos Monastery is one of the main monuments in Lisbon. Any tourist in the city must see it; the capital of Portugal is very rich in historical and cultural attractions. The Monastery was a church built in the 15th century by the order of Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante D. Henriqu) to enlarge a small chapel, which served sea travelers. After that, King Manuel I of Portugal ordered the building of the large monastery after taking the permission from The Holy See. The Holy See is the head of the Catholic Church in the world, based in Rome.

The construction of the monastery was complete 100 years after the first order. It was designed in the Manueline-style architecture, a Portuguese architectural style representing the influence by the eastern Indian temple design. This was discovered during voyages of two famous Portuguese explorers, Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral, to the east.

In 1983 Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower became UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s worthwhile to visit inside the Monastery, which is opened for all visitors, not only for prayers. The Tower of Belém was built in the same era as the monastery, with the same architecture style. It would be a great idea to go inside the tower than just looking to it from outside as well: you will have a great view of the Tejo River and Belém neighborhood.

Other than historical and cultural attractions, Belém has some beautiful gardens such as Jardim do Ultramar (The Garden of Ultramar) which is a tropical botanical garden with lakes, water birds and peafowls. Jardim Vasco de Gama (Vasco da Gama Garden) which is a 4.2 hectare garden close to the Jerónimos Monastery.

Belém is well connected to other parts of Lisbon through public buses and a tram network, and well served with taxis, hotels and restaurants of different budgets. The big secret to save money in Lisbon is that most of the monuments are free on Sunday mornings.

Image Courtesy : Debarshi Ray

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When you think of the world’s greatest and most iconic fashion designers, many names come to mind. Eva Mendes, Matthew McConaughey and Big Sean probably are not among those names. Granted, these celebs dress to impress at red carpet events, styled by the fashion industry’s finest, but do they have what it takes to create successful brands? Each of them is hoping that the answer is yes.

Eva Mendes has conquered the film industry and now she wants a slice of the fashion pie. Women’s Wear Daily has reported that Mendes entered a partnership with New York & Co. to create a sub-brand, Eva by Eva Mendes.

The actress is very much a style icon, stepping onto red carpets in couture pieces by Christian Dior, Lanvin, Gucci and Prada, to name a few. She also has great everyday style, so some would argue that it is befitting for her to create a collection for the masses.

“She has amazing red carpet style and also has a very unique style off the red carpet,” said Greg Scott, chief executive officer of New York & Co. “She has a real sense of self, which will help us in terms of the design aesthetic. When we look at her, she really is confident.”

Of the upcoming line, Mendes says that she has “a ton of ideas, but it’s a bit early to discuss them. [The project] is taking up all my time, but in the best way possible. Everything I see is a possible design. My mind is consumed by it. I’m fortunate enough to travel to so many exotic places. I could find inspiration in a gate in Istanbul for a plate or a blouse.”

Mendes will be heavily involved with the design process and has begun having creative development meetings.

Matthew McConaughey will be designing a menswear collection for Dillards.  “Just Keep Livin” (JKL) will feature sportswear and swimwear.

“This is my first adventure into the fashion world,” McConaughey said. “I’m enjoying it so far. I like working on the details, the design, the marketing. And I think the JKL philosophy is what makes it unique.”

The JKL philosophy is deeply rooted in family and honor. The Just Keep Livin Foundation was created following the death of McConaughey’s father in 1992.

“It was about keeping his spirit alive and remembering the things he taught me,” he said.

Sean “Big Sean” Anderson is a still-rising star in the hip hop industry, ready to take the fashion world by storm. The ambitious Detroit rapper recently announced that he will be launching a new fashion company, Aura Gold. The company’s fashion label, “Finally Famous” and its first offering, “The Black Collection”, debuted last week in Las Vegas at Project MVMNT, a trade show featuring up and coming trendsetters.

“Launching my own label is a dream come true for me,” Anderson said.  “Even though I have a lot to learn about fashion and the industry, I do know what I like and the small details that make something stand out to me. I look forward to evolving the line with more colors, fabrications and offerings to show the other dimensions of my style progression over time.”

The fashion collective will include t-shirts, pants, sweat shirts, jackets and hats. Fans may view some of Anderson’s designs in the February/March 2013 issue of Vibe Magazine.

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The US Department of Justice has given its seal of approval to the proposed merger between Random House and Penguin.

“This positive first decision by one of the antitrust authorities is an important milestone on the path to uniting two of the world’s leading publishing companies into a truly global publishing group,” said Thomas Rabe, CEO of Bertelsmann AG (the German parent company of Random House). “It will enable investments worldwide in new digital publishing models, in new distribution paths, products, and services, and in the major growth markets.”

Bertelsmann and Penguin’s British parent company, Pearson PLC, announced their plans to merge last year. At the time, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp was said to be eyeing Penguin for possible purchase in order to bolster their publishing arm (News Corp already owns HarperCollins).

The merger between Random House and Penguin will create the largest publishing house the world has ever known. The new company will be called ‘Penguin Random House,’ and Bertelsmann will control 53 percent of it, while Pearson will control the other 47 percent.

Estimates of Penguin Random House’s projected market share vary widely. When the merger was first announced, it was reported that the new company would control 30 percent of the trade-book market. Now, the media seem to suggest that the figure will be closer to 25 percent. However, if the market share is examined by genre, Penguin Random House’s clout might be much greater. For example, Dennis Johnson over at the independent publisher Melville House suggests that the new conglomerate might end up controlling 50 percent of the literary fiction market.

No doubt Pearson and Bertelsmann are hoping that, by tying the knot, they will be able to strengthen their hand when negotiating with digital companies like Amazon, Google, and Apple. Amazon alone controls a whopping 60 percent of the online book market thanks in large part to its now-ubiquitous Kindle family of e-readers.

Despite the Justice Department’s approval, the merger still faces potential obstacles in Europe. The European Commission still needs to evaluate the deal, and analysts note that it tends to evaluate culture-related mergers with particular care. When Universal Music Group purchased the recorded music division of EMI last year, European Union regulators forced Universal to sell off a large chunk of EMI’s assets, including most of the lucrative Parlophone label. Will Bertelsmann and Pearson be forced to make similar concessions?

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Blood, Love and Rhetoric (BLR), an English-language theater company based in Prague, is putting on a production for the fourth time this January with the hearty title “Chekhov – From Russia With Love, Blood and Rhetoric.” The show covers Russian history from the times of intelligentsia in cake-dresses to the wife-beaters and Adidas sweatpants of the ferocious nineties. The performance takes place at Divadlo Inspirace at Malá Strana in Prague, which has a small, cozy auditorium and a no-less-cozy bar with a medieval touch.

The show consists of five one-act plays: “Mustard,” “Swansong,” “Tobacco,” “Inspector-General” and “Proposal.” Not only does BLR provide the spectators with an introduction to Chekhov’s peculiar rhetoric, but the style of the theater group itself shows a lot. BLR enriches Chekhov with practical jokes, killer Russian and French accents, a red couch, epaulets and lots of vodka.

With the first play, “Mustard,” we plunge into the times of eccentric characters wearing plateresque outfits. One may or may not like the over-expressiveness on the part of the noble russian Madame (Beathe Linde) and her no less noble fellow Frenchman with the fidgety eyebrows (Mikey Blount). Yet, the servant’s (Uliana Elina) song will surely give you goosebumps.

“Swansong” balances between being an existential tragedy and a philosophizing comedy of an old alcoholic who returns to the bottle and forgets what he is celebrating. Curt Mattew’s merely setting his foot on the scaffolding sends the audience into fits of laughter. That is why, despite the monologue being lengthy and uneventful, “Swansong” succeeds at being entertaining.  There is a curious dichotomy between the comedian’s (Mattew) artistry and the prompter-character (Ronald Prokes) being a stranger to art, which magnifies the conflict between the generations.

The apogee of the show is Logan Hiller’s monologue in “Tobacco.” Stalin’s portrait, the formidable chorus and the suitcase with something green and radioactive altogether create an immaculate interpretation of Chekhov in a character of its own. “Tobacco” set the bar really high for the rest of the show, which might have been a mistake, seeing that the two plays following the intermission do not quite reach “Tobacco”‘s epic nature.

The fourth play, “Inspector-General,” flies by: it is short, runs smooth and is a good laugh. It is not particularly memorable compared to the rest of the show.

“Proposal,” on the other hand, the fifth and last part of the show, is quite a surprise. “Proposal” combines lowbrow criminals with the delicate matters of Chekhov’s play, and regardless of the seemingly dichotomy, the two blend together into a perfect combination. The last part might appear a bit lengthy, but it is worth the story. You would not be able to imagine better characters than the trio consisting of Aneta Kölblová, John Poston and Ronald Prokes. This is the point in the performance when the audience indeed gets blood, love and lots of rhetorics all at once.

Due credit must be given to Jim Hight, who’s sudden appearances in almost every scene gave each play a touch of BLR’s distinctive black humor that has made them into something more than just another Chekhov revival.

Having said that, if you still have not made up your mind about whether to go see BLR or not, there is one argument that is better than all the prattling on about dichotomies and conflicts of generations: Blood Love and Rhetoric gets the audience rolling in the aisles.

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Gallery1988 will present “For Your Consideration,” their first collaborative exhibition featuring art inspired by the 2012 Best Picture Oscar nominees, on display February 14 through 17 at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles. The images can currently be viewed in a digital gallery at http://oscar.com/for-your-consideration.

“Working hand-in-hand with the Academy has been a dream come true for Gallery1988 and its artists,” said Jensen Karp, co-owner and co-curator of Gallery1988. “So much inspiration has come from past Oscar telecasts as well as the amazing range of films that have been nominated this year. It was a perfect fit for our style of artwork and treatment, and we can’t wait to show everyone the results of some of our most creative contemporary minds.”

The Academy and Gallery1988 commissioned a small group of young international artists to create original screen prints inspired by this year’s nine Best Picture nominees. The participating artists and their respective films are Matt Owen (‘Amour’), Anthony Petrie (‘Argo’), Rich Kelly (‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’), Mark Englert (‘Django Unchained’), Phantom City Creative (‘Les Misérables’), Tom Whalen (‘Life of Pi’), Jeff Boyes (‘Lincoln’), Joshua Budich (‘Silver Linings Playbook’) and Godmachine (‘Zero Dark Thirty’).

These screen prints are not available for purchase; however, fans will have several opportunities to obtain limited edition posters. On each day of “For Your Consideration,” Gallery1988 will give away free posters to the first 100 people who visit the gallery at a specified time. For information on when each film poster will be distributed, visit nineteeneightyeight.com or follow Gallery1988 on Twitter (@galleries1988) and Facebook (gallery1988). Fans outside the Los Angeles area can find out about poster giveaway opportunities by following the Academy on Twitter (@TheAcademy) and Facebook (TheAcademy).

“For Your Consideration” also features 12 illustrations of memorable Oscar moments by Oliver Barrett, a light installation by Julie B (Pretty in Plastic), and other Oscar-inspired work by artists Olly Moss, Nan Lawson and DabsMyla.

Gallery1988 opened in Los Angeles in 2004 and has since become a world-recognized destination for pop culture art. It has produced such shows as Crazy 4 Cult, in which 100 artists created pieces inspired by classic cult films, and has worked with such luminaries as Stan Lee, Beastie Boys, Weird Al Yankovic and Judd Apatow. It recently spearheaded the “Breaking Bad” Fan Art Campaign, partnering with Sony to promote the most recent season of the television show. Gallery1988 also has created pieces for PaleyFest and Jason Reitman’s Live Read series at LACMA, as well the historic poster and artwork for Paramount Pictures’ 100th Anniversary celebration.

Gallery1988 is located at 7021 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the gallery is closed on Monday and Tuesday. For more information, visit nineteeneightyeight.com.

Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane. The Oscar presentation will be televised live on the ABC Television Network and in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Image Courtesy :  lincolnblues

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The world of Shadow Ops comes alive once more in Myke Cole’s newest book Fortress Frontier. In a setting where magic can change a dedicated military war fighter into a superhuman mage, Fortress Frontier pushes the envelope of personal growth and magical prowess all at once.

Fortress Frontier starts with a new character very different from Oscar Britton. Alan Bookbinder is to most of the world, a glorified paper pusher. In military terms, he is someone worth respecting, having reached the rank of Colonel but he has neither fought wars, nor earned medals for combat bravery. His journey of self discovery though, will captivate readers to their very core.

In the first book, Control Point, Oscar Britton was essentially the main character. In an interview with Toonari Post, Myke Cole said that more characters are to come and readers will see whereas Britton is a hard charging fighter, Bookbinder is a desk-sitting paper pusher. Bookbinder’s character is relatable in his hesitation and fear but is steadfast fighting his own sense of cowardice. So in terms of character design, Britton may be the conflicted superhero searching for his path in life, while Bookbinder is the unwavering commander of this magical ship.

Though the story started with Oscar, it takes off with Alan and it may be a mistake that the first hero is nearly upstaged by the second. Bookbinder’s character speaks to that part of us who want to be more, to rise up and not be afraid. Whereas Oscar’s character has a more traditional military feel with his gung-ho attitude, Alan is more representative of an ordinary civilian thrust into a difficult, life changing situation.

Additionally, the two books transition too seamlessly, with literally no time passing between the ending of the first book and the second. In real time, it has been a year between the first and second books; readers who have not read the first book recently will need a refresher on some of the terminology – which makes the included glossary of terms a huge boon to the book.

Adding fuel to this already great universe, the Forward Operating Base (FOB) on the frontier may be a military base in this book, but readers will be drawn into the desperate reality that is inflicted upon these military service men and women. The story has a few standard conventions that are in keeping with the meshing of an invading force fighting an indigenous people, but these elements are executed well. Other characters feel real and plausible.

The addition of magic also makes for more storyline opportunity and it is here that Myke Cole has expanded upon the masterfully built universe. The system of magic has evolved into demonstrations of their practical use since the first book. If anything, the first book showed literal, neatly scripted use of magic that was straight forward and will make a lot of sense to anyone familiar with an efficient military. The second book, Fortress Frontier, completely turns the straight forward approach on its head by giving magic a personality.

Magic is a vibrant and uncharted territory in many aspects of the Shadow Ops universe. This gives Cole leeway to create, change and even accelerate some of the magic usage in his books. Many books in the fantasy genre follow similar conventions, using magic to turn some of the less than plausible facets of a storyline into an acceptable plotline, but Cole’s execution sets him apart from everyone else.

He calls upon his military experience to give the fantasy aspect of magic a much needed anchored grounding in Shadow Ops. Without this, the magic used by Oscar Britton or Alan Bookbinder may not have had that unique and original feel. What may be common place in other fantasy books gains a level of depth and worth that cannot be seen when standing alone. Thus, the military and magic aspects of the Shadow Ops world compliment each other exceptionally well.

The military is also the basis of the most glaring opponent in this book, in the form of government and politics. As the series has grown, Fortress Frontier has zeroed in on how the system uses, abuses and destroys magic users.

In part, this is what happened to Oscar Britton in the first book. He witnesses the unfairness evident at the Forward Operating Base and sets a course that changes not only his life, but those of his friends too. One person who’s caught in the ripple effect is Alan, resulting in his rise to leadership when things look their worst. Here, readers will see Alan’s rise through his knowledge of logistics; cheering his successes while lamenting his losses side by side with him.

Myke Cole’s characters are gaining increased popularity and will eventually go toe to toe with the major antagonists in successive books. The world of Shadow Ops seems to be picking up steam, building toward that great climax in a yet unseen story arc that fans can almost taste. Fantasy readers will not only be drawn into this novel but will come away at the ending, realizing the enormous potential this universe possesses.

Combining military and fantasy genres has allowed Cole to cultivate a universe that has the ability to maintain a healthy succession of books and ever-evolving characters. With potential that goes beyond a trilogy or two, this is truly one of the most anticipated books of 2013 for many fantasy readers. Fortress Frontier is the supersonic jet fighter sequel to Control Point’s attack helicopter that started it all, better in every way.

Rating 4.5/5 – For great fantasy that is inspiring and well balanced, creating a world full of vivid military magic users

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He is one of the most polarizing figures in world literature. No photographs of him have been published since the fifties. He is the textbook example of postmodernism, famous for his large, dense, and (according to some people) unapproachable tomes. He is Thomas Pynchon: one of America’s leading men of letters, one of the most secretive novelists the world over, a perennial Nobel Prize in Literature candidate, and according to leading book critic and editor Ron Charles, his next book will apparently soon be arriving at bookstores. Charles tweeted that two sources at Penguin Press, Pynchon’s publishing house, had confirmed the news. If it is true, no release date has been set yet.

Entitled The Bleeding Edge, details are scarce, which is not too surprising considering Pynchon’s reclusive nature. It could be another labyrinthine, doorstop-sized novel like two of Pynchon’s most acclaimed books, Gravity’s Rainbow (winner of the 1974 National Book Award) and Mason and Dixon or it could be a beach read, like his latest book, Inherent Vice.

The term ‘bleeding edge’ is usually used when talking about new technology whose use could be risky or unreliable and cause companies great expenses. It is unclear if this is what Pynchon means with the title, but his books have a history of being concerned with mathematics and technology, so it is not too unlikely a guess.

Pynchon, following the tradition of J.D. Salinger, is a notoriously reclusive novelist. Details about his life are scarce. He was raised on Long Island, where he attended Oyster Bay High School, graduating at age 16. He attended Cornell University, where he studied Electrical Engineering before taking a few years off to join the navy. Upon his reentry into the school, he switched to English and enrolled in a class taught by Vladimir Nabokov of Lolita fame. After graduation, he took a job as a technical writer at Boeing while writing his first novel, V. He soon quit his job in the early 60’s and immersed himself in the hippie culture of California, whereupon the public’s knowledge of Pynchon ends.

Inherent Vice is also due for a movie adaption, sources say. Director Paul Thomas Anderson, famous for directing movies such as ‘There Will Be Blood’ and most recently ‘The Master’, has expressed interest in directing a film adaption of the novel. Principal shooting will take place this year, and IMDB gives the movie a tentative 2014 release date. The book was met with mixed reviews, but given Anderson’s past experiences with filmmaking, it could become one of the greatest movies of the decade.

Image Courtesy : Intrepidteacher

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Egyptian mummies have always been a secret fascination for children and adults worldwide. Now locals in Mumbai will get to travel back in time to the land of the Pharaohs and witness a grand revival of the Egyptian civilization in their very own neighborhood museum. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai (also known as the Prince of Wales Museum) along with the British Museum in London is hosting the exhibition of Mummy: The Inside Story between November 21, 2012 and March 24, 2013.

The exhibition includes many exciting workshops and events for children. One of the main attractions of the exhibition is the 3D film on the 3000-year-old mummy of an Egyptian temple priest, Nesperenub. All the exhibits have been specially brought in from the British Museum to showcase Egypt’s rich cultural history to Mumbai denizens.

The 20-minute 3D film unravels the mysteries of the Egyptian mummies by conducting a virtual unwrapping of the mummy of Nesperenub using computerized Tomography scanning and X-rays. The film is screened every half-hour from 11 am to 5.30 p.m.

The film that has delighted children of all ages is proving to be an enthralling experience for the adults as well. “Previously, we had to physically unravel a mummy in order to explore it, but with this technology, we can look inside while leaving the mummy intact,” said Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum when he spoke at the inauguration of the exhibition.

The 3D film creates a simulation experience for the audience, where viewers travel inside the body and discover the secrets of the complex mummification process. The film also uncovers some hidden facts about the mummification process such as extraction of the brains through the nose without cutting the skull using metal hooks. In ancient Egypt, a set of jars were used to hold the organs extracted from the body.

Besides Egyptian mummies and their coffins, the exhibition also showcases religious artifacts, idols, and hieroglyph-covered stelae. Special tours are conducted on Wednesdays for under-privileged children and for the blind. The exhibition’s forensic approach to studying Egypt’s history is a radical experiment by the British Museum.

Mumbai is the place to be within the next two months if one wishes to catch a glimpse of their favorite mummy. “Egyptian mummies have been a subject of intense curiosity around the world, so this exhibition will be very interesting for Mumbai visitors,” says Kumari Selja, a union minister for social justice and empowerment.

Image Courtesy : JohnBurke

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Could you ever have imagined that the coffee plant could be molded into an object of sheer beauty and creativity? Art has always been an individual expression of ideas and aspirations. When art takes form through the simple blend of natural pigments, plants, wood, cotton, and latex, it transforms into much more than being just an ordinary art sculpture – it becomes a sustainable inheritance from a person’s creativity. Ranjani Shettar’s latest solo museum exhibition in Mumbai, India does just that. Shettar’s first solo exhibition in India, High Tide for a Blue Moon is currently on display at the city’s oldest museum, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, till February 17, 2013.

Shettar’s sculptural installations are inspired by nature and she makes use of natural, traditional ingredients in all of her works such as tamarind kernel paste, muslin cloth, latex, wooden beads, coffee stems, and natural pigments. Ten sturdy yet delicate sculptures infuse the museum’s grand interiors with poetic drama and create vivid pictures spanning landscapes. The highlight of the exhibition is High Tide for a Blue Moon where Shettar creates a dramatic structure formed from the joining of coffee stems, which are coated with metallic automobile paint. Visitors must engage and soothe their senses with some of Shettar’s best creations: Lagoon, Remanence from Last Night’s Dream, and Scent of a Sound.

Ranjani’s inspired creations and dexterity have earned her accolades in prestigious museums worldwide including the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the New York Museum of Modern Art. Her sculptures lend the surrounding environment, a surreal and magical touch.

Ranjani is a young artist from Bangalore in India and she draws inspiration for most of her works from her mother’s home in Coorg and her own penchant for swimming against the tide of conventionalism. She grew up seeing the coffee plant being used decoratively and this fueled her creativity. From her student days at the Chitrakala Parishath, Ranjani Shettar wanted to create sculptures that could be suspended and even float in the air. With her first exhibition in Mumbai, she has been able to achieve that and much more.

Ranjani’s works have charmed collectors and art critics all over the world. If you happen to be in Mumbai then do stop by at the museum and enthrall your senses with her fine creations.

Image Courtesy : Talwargallery.com

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A budding artist has recently been thrust into the limelight all due to a single Instagram re-post by megastar Beyoncé.

A couple weeks ago, 20-year-old Baltimore artist, Briah Neale posted her painting of Beyoncé on her Instagram and it was re-posted by Beyoncé, which has since garnered immense attention towards Neale and her art work. The recognition which Neale has received by Beyoncé is something that she is humbled by and still in awe of.

“I was honored to have her recognize my artwork, I appreciate any and everyone who loves my artwork but it is amazing to have the person you created for to feel the same as well, sort of like an affirmation of a job well done. Beyoncé is very influential, not just in the music industry but in the world…right now it still hasn’t sunken it yet,” Neale said.

Neale has always dreamed of becoming an artist but she did not think that her dream would manifest so suddenly.

“I can remember being that kid in second when asked what I wanted to be saying an artist, or sitting on the curb at recess with my best friend drawing. I never wanted anything more; I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. However, I didn’t expect the recognition to come at all I never thought my art would have this affect. I just create because it’s what I love and I still would without any accolades or praise,” Neale said.

Neale has been painting in her animation style for about four years now and she first learned how to manipulate oil paints in the summer of 2009 during a portfolio building course taken at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

“The skills I learned there were traditional stylings but I have recently come into my own style, giving each of my pieces a sort of pop art feel,” Neale said.

The Beyoncé piece is 14 x 17″ and it is mixed media on a Bristol board. She used everything from a sharpie marker, to Speedball inks, acrylic paint, oil paints and gouache. She wanted it to be fun and playful like the image but she chose a more pastel palette because it seemed softer. Neale imagined Beyoncé being “very dainty, very feminine and I wanted to play on that.”

The enormous attention surrounding Neale and her work has become a whirlwind with her receiving countless emails, inquiries and comments through email Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram regarding the prints of the Beyoncé piece. She did not realize how many people saw the painting until requests started pouring in. She has heard from Singapore, Japan, France, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Germany, and London and all over the UK.

“Beyoncé has diehard fans who just want to feel like they have a piece of her and knowing she approves makes it that much more special,” Neale said.

Having such a strong demand for prints, Neale has decided to sell 99 exclusive prints that will be autographed for authenticity. She is building a website and will be releasing them and have her other artwork showcased at the top of this year.

“I chose to do 99 copies because to me the piece was special so I wanted it to be a rarity, a treasure. That much more exclusive knowing that only 99 in the world have been made and once they are gone they are gone. I will not do a reprint, each one of them will be number 1 of 99, 2 of 99 and so forth,” Neale said. She also plans to get the original piece sent to Beyoncé in the near future.

For Neale, having Instagram as the media outlet that got her noticed was a shock but it was not completely unexpected.

“I know the influence that social media has on my generation and the world as a whole in today’s society. I knew very well that it could be a gateway to get my artwork exposure, but I never imagine it would happen so quickly and on a scale of this magnitude,” Neale said.

She is grateful for the rise in recognition and as far as what it will do for the future it has definitely gotten her name out there and even better on a global platform.

“I am so excited for what is next for me, I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me, and I can’t wait to show the world my full potential.”

The article Briah Neale on the Rise: From Instagram to Stardom appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Many people hardly realize how much they are exposed to the media or how it impacts their everyday lives until it is actually identified.

Today’s society is a world in which citizens have become dependent on being fed information to keep them moving in the right direction.  Everything from work, education, relationships, traveling, entertainment and health concerns are influenced by what the media dictates through the use of advertisements, magazines, newspapers and the television.

“After seeing thousands of persuasive advertising messages, we make buying decisions based on what we saw in newspaper and magazine ads, saw and heard in television and radio ads, and saw and heard in ads on websites. Those ads tell us we can trust a product or service and that many people we know are buying the product or service and liking it,” says Dr. Anthony R Curtis, professor of the Mass Media Department at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, in a recent study.

One of the first things many people do when they wake up in the morning is turn on the computer and go online to check the weather. Doing this determines what clothes will be appropriate for the work day and the style of dress chosen is usually influenced, by others or from latest fashion trends seen on the TV or in magazines.

When getting ready to start the day, take notice of the items you use: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, make-up etc. They are most likely popular brands that were either advertised in a commercial or from a magazine.

According to The Media Comparisons Study, from TVB with Knowledge Networks, consumers credit TV ads as most influential in making a purchase decision. It is also a key source of information that consumers are most likely to learn about products and brands they would like to try or buy. The internet was next followed by newspapers and magazines.

According to Bill Harvey, a long-time media thought leader and vice-chairman of TRA, a New York sales data provider, “Ad quality is, itself, a behaviorist measure, since it’s based on data from set-top boxes and frequent-shopper cards that tells them that higher-quality ads are relatively more likely to be watched than skipped over.” Moreover, he has found that quality ads cause positive changes in brand purchase and greater return of investment. Since these quality ads are watched and bring a greater ROI that further proves that the media does influence people’s decisions.

From a marketing perspective, an individual’s decisions are based on what is inherent from their own cultures, from outside social references or their personal experiences. In work and school people know what has to be done based on their learned experiences and studies, but in daily life they rely on media to get the current news, facts and trends concerning what is important and what they should be aware of.

If people did not watch TV or glance through magazines how would they know what to buy to support needs and wants? Society needs the media to make so many decisions in life thus making it hard to determine how they can live without it now that it so widespread.

The current generation of young people has grown up in this environment with technology present in almost every aspect and their lives are consumed by it.

“Today’s huge merged companies have the power to shape our opinions and beliefs and influence our decisions. This is why it’s important to be aware of what we are exposed to every day, so we can look at things from different perspectives and not just from the perspective of a medium,” Curtis said.

Although people appreciate the media for all the positive things that come from it, the influential implications result in a society of individuals unable to make independent decisions.

The article The Media Impact on Consumer’s Decisions appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.