Dad of Divas' Reviews: August 2010

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sour Jacks - Sweet and Sour Taste at your Fingertips

My Take on the Candy

For anyone that has been a fan of sour patch kids in the past there is a new candy on the scene that will give it a run for the money.

Sour Jacks combine both sweet and sour to provide a great mix of taste for your mouth. As a person that does enjoy both sweet and sour and has enjoyed sour patch kids in the past, I have to say that I really liked this candy. Not only did it taste good, but the flavor lasted. Too often with this candy, once you eat it, the flavor disappears. Not with this candy!

So if you are looking for a great new candy to try that combines both the powerful taste of sweet and sour, look no further than Sour Jacks.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - The Heavens Proclaim His Glory: A Spectacular View of Creation Through the Lens of the NASA Hubble Telescope

About the Book
“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” Abraham Lincoln

Our world displays the handiwork of God all around us—in the land and sea, the animals and the plants. But in respect to the sky, the heavens, the universe…there’s a realm of beauty and creation man has not been able to witness, until now. The Heavens Proclaim His Glory is a compilation of stunning photography taken by NASA’s Hubble® Telescope capturing striking images of stars, galaxies, cosmic events, planets, and more. Vivid up-close photographs are paired with a romantic Psalm or quote, as well as a short description of the image. The Heavens will open up a whole new world of worship and praise for our God.
Contributors include: Francis Chan, Mike Huckabee, John MacArthur, Stephen Mansfield, Sarah Young, Max Lucado, Jenna Lucado, Henry & Richard Blackaby, Robert Morgan, Kirk Cameron, Homer Hickam, and more.

My Take on the Book
When I have seen pictures from the Hubble Telescope in the past I have always been amazed at the beauty that is always captured. Whenever I saw these images I always felt that, just like this book, that God had to have a hand in the overall creation of this beauty.

When I was given the opportunity to review this book from Thomas Nelson I was excited to see what the authors had come up with. When I received the book I was amazed to find a list of great authors such as Francis Chan, John MacArthur, Stephen Young, and Max Lucado contributing.

The book lived up to my expectations. The images were breathtaking and the writing that went with them fit so well, I could not of thought of any better words to fit.

I thought that the images alone would keep my attention, but I was surprised that I found that the images and words equally drew me in and engaged me as a reader. This book is a wonderful gift or addition to any home, don't miss out!

Whether you are a Christian or not, you will appreciate the beauty in this book.

If you would like to have this book as a part of your own library you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Book Review - Map Scripting 101

About the BookWeb applications like MapQuest and Google Maps simplify the way we navigate, offering nearly instant directions to the closest dentist, auto mechanic, or happy hour spot. For developers looking to incorporate an innovative, useful tool into their application or website, an interactive map can spur interest and encourage repeat visits from users. But how does the beginning cartographer take the plunge?

Map Scripting 101 (No Starch Press, Aug 2010, 376 pp, $34.95, ISBN 9781593272715) is an example-based beginner's guide to map scripting. Author Adam DuVander delivers a cookbook of 73 immediately useful mapping scripts like a local concert tracker, a Twitter friend-finder, and a real-time weather map. And because the book is based on the cross-platform Mapstraction JavaScript library, readers can use virtually any mapping service, including OpenStreetMap, MapQuest, Google Maps, Yahoo!, and Bing.

"When I show web developers how easy it is to make insightful online mashups and maps, the most common reaction is shock and delight. I love showing readers how powerful these geographic tools can be," says DuVander.

As they make their way through Map Scripting 101, readers learn how to:

Create, embed, and manipulate basic maps by setting zoom levels and map boundaries
Show, hide, and filter location markers and info-bubbles
Customize maps for visitors based on their location
Use common data formats like Google Earth's KML, GeoRSS, and GPS XML (GPX)
Create graphical overlays on maps to better analyze data and trends
Use freely available geodata from websites like Yelp and Upcoming—and public domain geodata from the US government

Map Scripting 101 is accessible enough for those with just a basic knowledge of HTML and CSS, but even advanced programmers will learn something new. Whether readers want to mark the best brasseries in gay Paris or just map their local police blotter, Map Scripting 101 provides bloggers, developers, and designers with the knowledge they need to create useful, interactive maps.

About the Author
Adam DuVander writes about geolocation, web development, and APIs for Programmable Web and WebMonkey, Wired.com's web developer resource. He has presented his work at SXSW and O'Reilly's Where 2.0 conference. He lives at 45° 33' 25" N, 122° 31' 55" W (otherwise known as Portland, Oregon).

My Take on the Book
I have tried a lot of different things on the Internet in my time online, but I cannot say that I am a strong programmer. I know enough HTML to know how to develop some simplistic websites, and that is about it. I do however like learning new things and I am a tech-savvy consumer who loves to be at the forefront of all that is happening in technology.

So while I have not developed scripts myself in regards to mapping, as a consumer I use them on a daily basis. Thus, this book was an amazing book to read as it shed so much light onto how the sites that I use actually work.

What I liked about this book is that it is written so that anyone can comprehend the concepts, even the beginner. The book was well written, and was an engaging read. The author offers a step-by-step guide to map scripting that should be a must have resource for anyone who is looking to do anything with map scripting.

This book has opened my eyes to a whole new world, and I look forward to dabbling in this for the foreseeable future and bet you will too once you read this book!

If this book sounds like something you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Book Review - On Admiration: Heroes, Heroines, Role Models, and Mentors

About the Book

Not only did people all over the world cry when Tiger Woods got caught cheating on his beautiful wife, but they obsessively followed every detail of his separation and divorce in real time. For better or for worse, he is, or was, seen as an American sports “hero.”

We’ve gotten to the point where people monitor every move that celebrities make. We look up to them for their ability to make money; reach the top of their sport or profession; and find love with other wealthy, attractive, successful people. When their worlds shatter, so do ours. When they falter, so do we. Just how far will we take this celebrity worship before we admit that these people just don’t deserve our admiration? Award-winning writer W. D. Wetherell explores the impact of those we admire on our everyday lives, and just how much we might be losing by admiring the wrong people.

On Admiration is a refreshing departure from a celebrity culture fueled by reality television, tabloid magazines, and celebrity twittering. Through a series of personal and moving mini-essays, it celebrates the heroes and heroines who have steered Wetherell’s life from his earliest years. Some of these heroes include:

· Henry David Thoreau • Dwight D. Eisenhower

· Mickey Mantle • Barack Obama

· Davy Crockett • Jim Thorpe

· Robert Frost • Rosa Parks

· Sir Edmund Hillary • Beverly Sills

Through humorous, insightful stories, Wetherell examines the state of fame, celebrity culture, and honest admiration in a personal way that will touch everyone who has been moved by a hero or heroine. He skillfully reminds us of the magic and mystery that comes with slow discovery – of that first awareness of those figures who awoke something within us, who inspired us as children, teenagers, and adults – forever changing our lives. His lively exploration of our collective psyche through pop-culture essays not only remind us what admiration is and what it does, but also how the people we admire define us, and the danger in letting the wrong people make us who we are.

About the Author:

W. D. Wetherell is a writer and author of over a dozen books including Soccer Dad and Morning. His short stories have appeared in Kenyon Review, Tri-Quarterly, Massachusetts Review, New England Review, Breadloaf Quarterly, Atlantic, Southern Review, Colorado Quarterly, Michigan Quarterly Review, and Graffiti. He has also written essays and travel pieces for The New York Times, The Boston Review, and other periodicals. He lives in Lyme Center, New Hampshire.

My Take on the Book

I was impressed with the array of people that the author examines in this book as he examines what it means to be a hero, role model and mentor and how all of this intertwines with society.

Using individuals that the reader readily can identify the author does an admirable job at allowing the reader to understand the role admiration plays in our society and how these different people fit into this. I enjoyed reading about the myriad of people that he selected and he uses a writing style that is easy to read and is engaging for the reader.

Overall, a great book and one that I would recommend highly!

If you want to have this book as a part of your own collection, you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Oliver's Labels Provide Your Products a Name

About the Product
When the owner's nephew was young, she would go exploring the city that her sister lived in by foot, with her nephew Ollie in his stroller. Like any young child, Ollie just loved to wiggle out of his shoes and toss them out the side of the stroller. Fortunately, she would usually notice soon enough, retrace their steps, and find his tiny shoe somewhere on the sidewalk. I knew there would be a time when we would not be so lucky.

That's when Debbie (the owner) got the idea to make some simple, homemade labels with Ollie's name and phone number on them. I stuck them on his bottle, inside his shoes, and on anything else Ollie decided he was bringing with him that day.

One day when she was back in her hometown (Toronto, Canada), she got a very excited phone call from her sister Marla. “You will never believe what happened!” she exclaimed. It turned out that as usual, on one of their excursions, Oliver had managed to maneuver out of one of his brand new Nike runners. Marla was so disappointed, having only discovered it missing once they got home. Later that day a woman from the Bronx called saying that she had found the shoe! The shoe was returned and I was so delighted that my labels worked! Marla was so delighted at having saved a $60 pair of shoes!

By the time that Oliver started daycare, attending class with 15 other children, Debbie started thinking about her labels again. This time, she used her 6 years of experience in the printing industry to design a label that would be both waterproof and beautiful. She then came up with the Found-it Tracking System™ to avoid sharing personal information (like a phone number) with strangers. Marla put them on Ollie's water bottle, books, and of course his shoes. His stuff always comes home with him. His teachers appreciate the time they save, always knowing what belongings are his. And Ollie’s classmates' parents started to ask Marla where they could get these same labels, both for their own children, and as birthday gifts for their children’s friends.

From all of this Oliver's Labels were born.

My Take on the Labels
I was quite impressed with the quality of these labels. We got some generic labels with the tracking system attached. I really like the tracking system as it allows someone to go online and send you a message when they find your lost items. While we have not yet lost anything that we placed a label on, I like having the peace of mind that these labels bring to my home. We now know that in regards to the larger important items that we have tagged, if they are left behind, someone could potentially contact us so that we can get them back.

At this time Dad of Divas readers are being offered a promotional code that will entitle you to 10% off of their orders. The code is OLIVERSFRIENDS.

If you are looking for a great way to track your child's things, look no further than Oliver's Labels!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Flannery Brothers Release Another Great Album!

About the Group
Winners of thirteen prestigious awards, including the Lennon Award for Best Children’s Song in the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the Flannery Brothers are known for their engaging, easy-going, “jam session in our living room” style of family music. With influences ranging from Jonathan Richman and The Beach Boys to Harry Nilsson and the Muppets, the band is dedicated to creating musical experiences that are honest, organic, fun, and respectful of kids and their families.

Responding to the overwhelming success of their first two albums, Love Songs for Silly Things and Move Over Lullabies … It’s Time for Wake Up Songs, the Flannery Brothers look ahead with great anticipation to the October 19 release of their third CD, The New Explorers Club. The New Explorers Club invites everyone in the family to go exploring. Filled with danceable, clappable, singable, family-friendly rock songs, The New Explorers Club enthusiastically encourages seeking adventure and viewing the world with a fresh perspective. While songs about submarine diving, kite flying, and pirates might be expected in this context, listeners may be surprised to hear a reggae number about lying down on the kitchen floor or an exciting boogie woogie tune about swallowing a bug!

My Take on the Album

Full of high energy fun lyrics, the New Explorers Club is a great album for kids and parents alike. With a mix of both musicality and rhyming listeners are brought into a world of fun and enthusiasm. I have to say that my favorite track on the album was Pirate or Parrot, but I also liked Green Submarine as well.

From my kids they all stated that they loved the album and have asked multiple times (in a row) to listen to the album, which is always a great sign!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Natural Markers Allow Kids to Be Creative and Green

About Clementine Art

Think Outside the Box, Color Outside the Lines Clementine Art was founded in 2008 by Diana Mercer, a former teacher with over 20 years of experience in the field of education, arts education, and child development. Diana created Clementine Art to encourage open-ended art explorations for children. The process of creating art is a powerful developmental tool for children, and Clementine Art products encourage children to dream, imagine, experiment, create, problem-solve, and above all, express themselves. Explains Diana: Real art is about creating. Early childhood educators know that the process of creating art is just as important to a childs development as the outcome. I wanted to create products that not only engaged children in an open-ended creative process, but that could also become an everyday part of a healthy and creative lifestyle.

Clementine Art produces professional quality, naturally non-toxic art supplies for children using only the purest ingredients. Clementine Art uses ingredients from the earth and our products are colored with vegetable, plant and mineral pigments instead of artificial dyes, providing an innovative solution to chemically laden, artificially colored art supplies.

www.clementineart.com

www.twitter.com/clementineart

www.facebook.com/clementineart

My Thoughts on the Product

Overall, I was impressed not only by the idea of non-toxic and earth friendly art supplies, but also the fact that by using these products we are teaching our children to be good stewards to our planet. At the same time the colors that were provided were vivid and I can say that my girls loved painting with them!

My kids loved the markers and the colors were so vibrant. I know that Clementine products are going to be a part of my family for some time to some!

I would highly recommend these products!

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Pepto Bismol Giveaway

Between ballpark hot dogs and weekend festival funnel cakes, summer eating can take a toll on the stomach. Luckily, Pepto has summer covered.

For more than 100 years, consumers have found relief for five stomach problems with soothing pink Pepto-Bismol.

Did You Know?

During the 1920s, Pepto-Bismol was sold at drugstore soda fountains.
Pepto-Bismol once treated a disease called "cholera infantum," which caused severe diarrhea, vomiting, or even death among infants.
The medicine we now call Pepto-Bismol was originally developed more than 100 years ago by a doctor out of his home.

History of Pepto-BismolToday, we think of how Pepto-Bismol® soothes the digestive system after we've overindulged at a meal or eaten unfamiliar foods while traveling. But in its early days, Pepto-Bismol did more than comfort; it actually helped treat a very serious illness.

The medicine we now call Pepto-Bismol was originally developed at the start of the 20th century, when high standards of hygiene and sanitation weren't as widespread as today. Looking to cure a frightening disease called "cholera infantum," which struck infants suddenly, causing severe diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes death, a doctor concocted a formula in his home that proved effective against these symptoms. The formula was made from pepsin, bismuth salicylate, zinc salts, salol, and oil of wintergreen, along with a colorant to make it pink, and he called it Mixture Cholera Infantum. (Researchers would later learn that cholera infantum was caused by a bacterial infection, treatable with antibiotics.)

The invention of what we now know as Pepto-Bismol coincided with other health advances, such as milk pasteurization and public campaigns advocating hand washing. These advances knocked infant diarrhea out of the top spot on the list of causes of death for infants in the United States.
The early success of Pepto-Bismol presented a production crisis for its inventor, who couldn't make enough product in his home to satisfy demand. He brought his formula to what was then called the Norwich Pharmacal Company in Norwich, New York. Norwich Pharmacal had a way to increase production dramatically—by manufacturing it in 20-gallon tubs.
Norwich added the remedy to its catalog for medical professionals, with the product name "Bismosal: Mixture Cholera Infantum." Norwich tinkered with the doctor's formula a bit and advertised the improved product as an "elegant, pleasantly flavored" mixture suitable for children because it contained no opiates.

Giveaway

How would you like to win a Pepto-Bismol prize package that includes a bottle of Pepto-Bismol Max, a box of chewable Pepto-Bismol tablets and a T-shirt. Back to School Kit as seen above for yourself? All you need to do 1) Subscribe to the Dad of Divas Reviews Site and 2) Leave a note here and on Dad of Divas on Facebook about what you would eat if you knew there was something that would safeguard your stomach. I will be giving away one prize pack to a lucky reader! The contest will run for one week and will end on September 4, 2010.

Bonus Entries

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count.

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Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I'll make it easier on you, copy and paste this: #win @dadofdivas is giving away an Pepto Bismol Prize Pack - http://bit.ly/deyqrO (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until August 27, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Unique Music Gifts

In continued tough economic times, people are looking for cost-effective, yet unique holiday gifts that also provide benefits. Learning to play a musical instrument is within $10.

One great gift idea for budget-minded parents who want to introduce their kids or themselves to the joy of music is the ocarina (aka sweet potato) http://www.stlocarina.presskit247.com and the teacarina (play music as you drink tea) http://www.stlocarina.presskit247.com/teacarina. Further contributing to the frugal angle, both the ocarina and the teacarina can be self-taught.

"The ocarina and teacarina seem to be the ideal instrument for adults and kids alike. It doesn't cost a lot and the learning curve is very, very easy," Laura Yeh, director at the St. Louis School of Music and who designs ocarinas for STL Ocarina.

$10 gift ideas just right for kids and adults of all ages:

The Killer Whale Ocarina http://www.stlocarina.com/k1.html and Blue Dolphin Ocarina http://www.stlocarina.com/k2.html each retail for $9.99. Each is 3 by 2 inches with a pitch from G5 to G6 and comes with a free instructional booklet and neck strap.
The 6 Hole Plastic Ocarina is ideal for beginners and retails for $10.00. It comes in blue, green, white and yellow, is 3 inches long with a pitch from C5 to E6 including sharps and flats and includes a free instructional book. Visit http://www.stlocarina.com/pl3.html for product overview.

Under $16 gift ideas just right for kids and adults of all ages:

The 12 Hole Plastic Soprano Ocarina in C Major is ideal for beginners and retails for $16. It comes in bright blue, green and pink, is 5.5 inches long with a pitch from A5 to F7 and also includes a free instructional book and strap. Visit http://www.stlocarina.com/wz7plb.html for a detailed product overview.
The 6 Hole Soprano Ocarina in C Major retails for $15.99. It comes in blue, green, purple and orange, is 2 inches long with a pitch from C6 to E7 including sharps and flats and includes a free instructional book. Visit http://www.stlocarina.com/j19.html for product overview.
Instructional manuals such as the Zelda Songbook for Ocarinas and Treble Instruments ($13, http://www.stlocarina.com/zeldabook.html).

Under $25 gift ideas just right for kids and adults of all ages:

For Legend of Zelda fans, STL Ocarina carries a full line of instruments and accessories, including the Legend of Zelda Rupee Tenor Ocarina now on sale for $22 (regularly $26). This new, 6-hole C Major tenor Rupee ocarina is about 3 inches long with a range of 10 notes plus sharps and flats. It comes with a neck strap and a fingering chart. Buy the Legend of Zelda Rupee Tenor Ocarina and get free downloads of tablatures for songs such as "Ocarina of Time" title theme, "Zelda's Lullaby," "Serenade of Water" and "Twilight Princess" title theme. For more details, visit http://www.stlocarina.com/lrupee6.html.
Manufactured by STL Ocarina of St. Louis in a range of beautiful colors, the teacarina on sale for $18 (regularly $22), making it a truly affordable gift. Like all of the amazing ocarinas manufactured by STL Ocarina, it is irresistible to play for anyone young or old. Each teacarina comes with an instruction booklet. Music is produced by blowing through an air chamber, changing pitch by fingering four holes of various sizes on the side on the cup. To see and hear a demonstration, click here: http://www.stlocarina.com/teacarina.html

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THE BLACK CAULDRON: 25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION on DVD

Disney’s
The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Special Edition

DVD FACT SHEET

The Black Cauldron, Walt Disney Pictures’ 25th animated feature-length film, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a Special Edition DVD release September 14 from Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Based on Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain books, this mystical, action-packed adventure debuts just in time for Halloween. The film tells the story of Taran, an apprentice pig keeper with dreams of becoming a great warrior, who embarks on a quest to find a magical and powerful Black Cauldron before the evil tyrant Horned King can possess it for his own diabolical purposes. Fantastical characters like the oracular pig Hen Wen, the willful princess Eilonwy, and the droll but annoying Gurgi face witches, elves, magic swords and other obstacles. As they journey through these thrilling escapades, Taran begins to learn the true meaning of what it is to be a hero.

Exciting new bonus features for The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Special Edition include a new game and a never-before-seen deleted scene as well as a new digital transfer.

New Bonus Features Include:

Deleted Scene—The Fairfolk: Viewers join Taran, Fflewddur Fflam, Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy as they travel into the depths of the earth and meet the Fairfolk.
The Witches’ Challenge Game—In order to defeat the dark powers of the Horned King, players must gain possession the magical sword from the Witches of Morva by solving their riddles.

Plus Classic DVD Bonus Features:

Still Frame Gallery—A compilation of behind-the-scenes artwork and photos.
Quest For the Black Cauldron—A trivia game in which players compete against the evil Horned King in a race to reach the Black Cauldron first.
Trick Or Treat—Classic Donald Duck cartoon from 1952.

STREET DATE:   September 14, 2010

Rated: PG
Run Time: Approx. 80 minutes
Video: Widescreen (1.78 Aspect Ratio)
Audio: Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
DVD Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
SRP: 1-Disc DVD $19.99

Book Review - Before (During) After

About the Book“We saw it. We captured it. We are forever changed by it.” It has been said that art mirrors life. This sentiment has never been more true than it was for those artists who lived in or around southeast Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina. Chaos, despair, suffering were all rampant, not to mention water, water everywhere. Those images broadcast throughout the world, became permanently embedded in our

collective psyches.

Before During After is a visual and literary narrative of how Hurricane Katrina transformed the lives and work of twelve photographers from southeast Louisiana. Five years after the storm’s wake, we look back to discover Katrina’s imprint on the creative expression of these artists. The book emphasizes not only the effect of Hurricane Katrina but also the way individuals are influenced by their environments, particularly in times of dramatic upheaval. Adding depth to the pictorial representation, photographers have written intimate accounts of how Katrina changed their lives, work and vision of the future.

Before During After explores the changes in subject matter, media, and technique from the work created before the storm to after. It’s important to mark this milestone in a positive way, showing strength in times of adversity and exploring how the storm has been an impetus for change. Native New Orleanian and artist Elizabeth Kleinveld, who developed the book with Tom Varisco, found that the best way to deal with the destruction of Katrina was through her art. “Personally, photographing the destruction was a way for me to take in the affronts to the senses and to sensibility. It was a way for me to contend with the devastation and to distance myself from reality so that I could bear it just a little more.” In addition to Kleinveld, the other photographers include: Eric Julien, Rowan Metzner, David Rae Morris, Tom Neff, Sam Portera, Frank Relle, Jen Shaw, Mark Sindler, Zack Smith, Jonathan Traviesa, and Lori Waselchuck.

Issued by University of New Orleans Press, the four-color, softbound publication is $24.95 and now available for review. Created by Tom Varisco Designs, the 124-page book also features insightful essays by John Biguenet, Steven Maklansky, and Tony Lewis.

My Take on the Book
This book will stun you into submission! Talk about powerful, the images draw you in and let you relive the tragedy that was Katrina. On top of this the literary portions of the book were eloquently written and help you to understand what people felt and are still feeling about what happened to their homes. I was touched by the stories and mesmorized by the images that were shared in this and I know that you will be also.

If this book sounds like something that you would like for your own collection, you can find it on Amazon!

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Book Review - The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide

About the BookThere are close to 10,000 independent features produced each year. Many never make it to the big screen. The Independent Film Producer’s Survival Guide: A Business And Legal Sourcebook 3rd Edition by Gunnar Erickson, Mark Halloran and Harris Tulchin (Order #: SCH10172, Price: $27.95, 464 Pages) tells you everything you need to know to produce and market an independent film—from the development process to deal making, financing, setting up the production, hiring directors and actors, securing location rights, acquiring music, calculating profits, digital movie making, distribution, and marketing your film. Written by a trio of entertainment lawyers with over 60 years combined experience, The Independent Film Producer’s Survival Guide offers clear, concise guidance for navigating the complex journey of making a movie and avoiding the legal pitfalls and business blunders. by Gunnar Erickson, Mark Halloran and Harris Tulchin (Order #: SCH10172, Price: $27.95, 464 Pages) tells you everything you need to know to produce and market an

Featuring a succinct presentation of the independent film business-legal process, the book is the most practical and concrete text on the Hollywood deal-making process to date. Many of the real-world examples of independent producers struggling to secure the deal are thought provoking and encouraging. The authors share insights from their decades of legal and entertainment production experience, in essence offering thousands of dollars of free legal advice to aspiring independent producers. Beyond offering a roadmap of business-planning steps, the book includes templates of numerous legal forms that an independent producer might need.

About the Authors

Gunnar Erickson currently practices entertainment law with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School. He has been active with the UCLA Entertainment Law Symposium and taught Entertainment Law at Pepperdine Law School, as well as frequently spoken and written about entertainment matters.

Mark Halloran is a principal of Halloran Law Corporation. In his studio days, Mark was Vice President, Feature Business Affairs at Universal Pictures, and Business Affairs Council at Orion Pictures. In private law practice, Mark was a founding partner of Alexander, Halloran, Nau & Rose, and Erickson, Halloran & Small. Mark specializes in entertainment financing, production, and distribution, and acts as an expert witness in film, television, and music litigation. Mark is co-author of The Musician’s Guide to Copyright (Charles Scribner’s Sons) with Gunnar Erickson and Ned Hearn and the current The Musicians Business and Legal Guide (Jerome Headlands Press/Prentice Hall). He is co-chair of the SC Institute on Entertainment Law and Business, and serves on the Board of directors of the Los Angeles Chamber Singers.

Harris E. Tulchin is founder and Chairman of Harris Tulchin & Associates Ltd., with affiliated offices worldwide. He is a graduate of Cornell University and Hastings Law School and has specialized in entertainment production, finance, and distribution, communications, and multimedia law since 1978. He has lectured extensively at forums such as UCLA, the American Film Institute, Independent Feature Project, The Sundance Producer’s Conference, the Cannes, Toronto, Los Angeles Independent, Hollywood, Venice, Edinburgh (Scotland) and numerous other Film Festivals and has published numerous articles on entertainment law. He has served as Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel for Cinema Group for United Artists; Director of Business Affairs at MGM Television; and Counsel for American International Pictures and Filmways Pictures. In addition, Mr. Tulchin acts as an expert witness in entertainment litigation, is an American Film Marketing Association arbitrator, serves as a producer’s representative on scores of completed films, as well as film projects, and has served as Executive Producer of nine feature films, including the critically acclaimed "To Sleep With Anger," distribution by Song and Goldwyn, and "Guy," financed and distributed by PolyGram.

My Take on the Book

The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide is an amazing, hands-on, practicle guide for the would-be movie producer. While I am not in the movie making business, I have many friends that are trying to do this and I can tell that this book has everything that any would-be producer would need to seal the deal in the movie-making process. The book was very succinct and provided great information that was tangible and to the point.

If this book sounds like something that you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

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Book Review: How Rich People Think

About the Book

What separates rich people from the middle class? Mental toughness expert Steve Siebold says it’s the way people think about money. In his new book, How Rich People Think, Siebold breaks down 100 differences in thinking between how rich people look at money versus how the middle class looks at money. The differences are not only numerous - they’re extreme!

Driven by the fear of loss and uncertainty of the future, Siebold says the masses focus on how to protect and hoard their money – especially during difficult times like these. The world class, as Siebold calls them, on the other hand, understands the importance of saving and investing, but they direct their mental energy toward accumulating wealth through serving people and solving problems. They know that the secret to becoming a millionaire isn’t in the mechanics of the money, but in the level of thinking that generates it.

How Rich People Think isn’t about money. It’s about thinking. Each short chapter represents one of the lessons Siebold learned over the past 26 years interviewing some of the richest people in the world. It’s the raw and uncensored truth about how rich people really think.

Some differences in thinking between rich people and the middle class when it comes to money that the book outlines:

Middle class focuses on saving. World class focuses on earning.
Middle class believes hard work creates wealth. World class believes leverage creates wealth.
Middle class believes money is earned through labor. World class believes money is earned through thought.
Middle class worries about running out of money. World class thinks about how to make more money.
Middle class operates from a fear based consciousness. World class operates in a consciousness of abundance and freedom.
Middle class sees money through the eyes of emotion. World class sees money through the eyes of logic.

In addition, each chapter ends with an action step to help the reader think about money more like rich people do. The premise: you have to think like a millionaire to become a millionaire.

If anyone knows about getting rich after going through tough times, it’s Siebold. In 1984, he was completely broke and searching for answers. What he found was that it’s not intelligence or education that holds back the average person from getting rich. It’s the middle-class beliefs about money that keeps them struggling to survive in a world of abundance. Today, he’s a multi-millionaire.

If you’re rich, Siebold says, keep thinking the way you’re thinking. If not, maybe it’s time for a change.

To learn more, visit http://www.howrichpeoplethinkbook.com/

About the Author

Steve Siebold is a former professional athlete and national coach He's spent the past 26 years studying the thought processes, habits, and philosophies of world class performers. Today he helps Fortune 500 companies increase sales through mental toughness training. His clients include Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble and Toyota. He's written four other books on mental toughness, two of which have become business best-sellers with over 130,000 copies in print. His national television show, Mental Toughness with Steve Siebold, won the 2007 Telly Award. In the past 6 months, Steve has been interviewed on the Today Show, Good Morning America, ABC News, The BBC in Europe, NBC Australia, and dozens of others. As a professional speaker, Steve ranks among the top 1% of income earners worldwide. Steve's blog, MentalToughnessBlog.com is currently one of the fastest growing audio/video blogs on the Internet.

My Take on the Book

This book is short, but to the point and gives you a ton of information to chew on in those 100 short chapters. I enjoyed how each chapter differentiated between how rich people and poor people think. I also enjoyed reading through the suggestions that he gives so that you can move toward the wealth that you always hope for. Much of the book is truly about is changing the way that you think about money and I believe that if you follow his steps, you can move in the right direction financially!
If this book sounds like something you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

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TBS New Season - My Boys Giveaway

My Boys is back for Season 4!!! This TBS hit comedy about a group of close friends who always make time to get together, drink beer, play their weekly poker and support each other through the ups and downs of dating, break-ups and career highs and lows.

Season 3 ended with the gang in Arizona for the Cubs spring training game. Brendan is threatened by a professional baseball player meanwhile sparks fly between Kenny and Stephanie, Mike tries his best to get a base hit off a professional pitcher and Bobby helps P.J. write her best article yet. As the group returns to Chicago, Bobby and P.J. stumble upon Kenny and Stephanie kissing...

As a new season blossoms, the friends continue to joke around, bond over beer and poker and have fun, but this time around, they also have to face the realities of life financial issues, career decisions, and getting into serious relationships.

Catch Season 4 which is currently running on TBS. Grab a beer and tune in or set your DVR to watch their latest trials and tribulations.

Giveaway

How would you like to win a Season 2/3 My Boys DVD for yourself? All you need to do 1) Subscribe to the Dad of Divas Reviews Site and 2) Leave a note on Dad of Divas on Facebook about what your thoughts are on whether men and women can just be friends. I will be giving away the above prize to one lucky reader! The contest will run for one week and will end on September 3, 2010.

Bonus Entries

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

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Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until September 3, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.