New Anne Rice Book - October 7, 2008

 

 

I guess it was bound to happen...She needed closure from her Vampire Chronicles & The Lives of the Mayfair Witches as well as  "proper explanation" to her return to the Faith.

My Muse & Goddess of the written word, Anne Rice, is releasing her new memoir, called CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS: A Spiritual Confession. :)

Of course, this Vampire can't wait to get his hands on this one. :)

Walking In The Garden Of Souls

Losing my dad just about 10 months ago was made bearable (even if a tad bit) after reading this book which gave me both hope and a sense of anticipation of the rewards that we all would reap once our time here is done and the lessons that have been mapped out been learned and applied.

George Anderson writes effectively and allows the reader to both embrace the work that he does and wish that he is our next door neighbor and we could easilly converse with special people in our lives whom we miss and has left us both changed and longing for our reunion with them.

TRUE BLOOD - New Vampire Series on HBO- Sept 2008

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Horror

I Can't WAIT for THIS ONE... :)

True Blood is an American television series based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries books by Charlaine Harris and adapted for television by Alan Ball. The series is produced by HBO in association with Ball's own production company.

The show details the fictional co-existence of vampires and humans in a small Louisiana town after Japanese-made synthetic blood – "TruBlood" – becomes available for purchase. Anna Paquin stars as Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress at a diner who falls in love with one of the vampires, Bill Compton (portrayed by Stephen Moyer).

The show will premiere on September 7, 2008.

Cast and characters

* Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress in a smalltown diner
* Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton, a vampire with whom Sookie falls in love
* Alexander Skarsgard as Eric Northman, a thousand-year-old vampire Viking
* Ryan Kwanten as Sookie's brother Jason Stackhouse
* Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte, the owner of the restaurant in which Sookie works
* Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton, Sookie's best friend. In the leaked pilot, Tara is played by Brook Kerr.
* Jim Parrack as Hoyt Fortenberry.
* Chris Bauer as detective Andy Bellefleur.
* Nelsan Ellis as Sookie's coworker Lafayette Reynolds.
* Lynn Collins as Dawn Green, Jason Stackhouse's love interest.
* William Sanderson as Bud Dearborne.
* Lorin McCraley as a Grabbit Quick Clerk

Series creator Alan Ball had previously worked with premium cable channel HBO on Six Feet Under, which ran for five seasons. In October 2005, after Six Feet Under's finale, Ball signed a two-year agreement with HBO to develop and produce original programming for the network.

True Blood became the first project under the deal, after Ball read the first book in Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampires Mysteries series "on impulse" and became interested in "bringing [Harris'] vision to television." The project's hour-long pilot was ordered concurrently with the finalization of the aforementioned development deal and was written, directed and produced by Ball.

The pilot was shot in the early summer of 2007 and was officially ordered to series in August, at which point Ball had already written several more episodes. Gary Calamar, the music director for the series, said he's working on a soundtrack for the show that is "swampy, bluesy and spooky" and that he plans to feature local Louisiana musicians. Calamar's work includes the sound for Dexter, Weeds and Entourage.

The premiere of True Blood has been prefaced with a viral marketing/ARG campaign, based at BloodCopy.com. This has included setting up multiple websites, encoding web address into unmarked envelopes mailed to high profile blog writers and others, and even performances by a "vampire" who is attempting to reach out to others of their kind, to discuss the recent creation of "TruBlood", a material apparently pivotal to the initial plot.

A MySpace account with the username "Blood" has, as of June 19, uploaded two videos; one entitled "Vampire Taste Test - Tru Blood vs Human", and one called "BloodCopy Exclusive INTERVIEW WITH SAMSON THE VAMPIRE". There is a wiki at trublood.wikidot.com which collates information on the campaign.

A rough version of the pilot has been released/leaked online.

Blogthings - What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

What Caz Means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are incredibly wise and perceptive. You have a lot of life experience. You are a natural peacemaker, and you are especially good at helping others get along. But keeping the peace in your own life is not easy. You see things very differently, and it's hard to get you to budge.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Blessed Be, My Father

On October 8, 2007 my father left me...

It took me all this time to even write and blog my thoughts as those days following his passing were a muck. I had too many ideas that I wanted to flesh out. There was just too many things all cramming in the pea size of a brain I had in such a short time; not to mention my emotional state.

Dad had been suffering for the last 5 years now and perhaps it's even selfish of me to hang on to him; to that sense of assurance, security and surety in this world by clinging on to him for just one more day knowing that for every day that passes, another day is added to his suffering. But Dad has always been the strong one. He has always been the sure one whereas I, the youngest in a family of 3 would always be the one who would look up and ask in order to make sure I got it right. At the same time when I would want to have my way, I would also be the brat and give dad a piece of my mind...ah yes, the arrogance of youth.

But I've mellowed down since then and grown a little more patient and wiser I think. And it's just bittersweet that Dad won't be with us this Christmas; that I wasn't able to finish the book that I am still writing, of which the 1st draft I gave to him last year as his birthday present. Heck, I wasn't even there when he left us during a recent family trip in Hong Kong as I had to come back to Manila to prepare his medicine to be sent back and also accompany my nephew and niece and family back home.

He knew that I loved music. He knew how I am a changed person when I'm singing on stage and giving in to my passion. But what he didn't know was, that I am now part of a new vocal group that just finished recording its first Christmas single and slated for a November release. We were planning to have special launch for just family and friends and are gearing up to do that once the album is finished. And it was supposed to be my Christmas surprise for him.

But alas, I was the one who was surprised...or rather the family was the one who got surprised when dad relinquished his hold on this world and departed for the next. I know now that he knows everything and that even my plans that were dormant are now revealed to him and so perhaps it doesn't matter as much.

But wherever you are Dad, I thank you.

I thank you for taking me in. I thank you for the money you spent on my education. I thank you for assuring me that all will be well; for telling me not to be afraid to make a decision; to hold on to the good times; to never compromise my values; to never be wasteful and to never give up.

I thank you for appreciating in your own way the creativity that I have and even pushed me to share it with others. I thank you that early on you validated that creative spark in me when I didn't even know it was there. And because of that here I am, able to do what I do today.

So many things more that I wanted to say and thank you for. But I know that I should not mourn your passing too much. Instead as your son, let me celebrate instead the life that you led; by giving credence and validation to the good values that you have taught us. And the only way to do that is to live our lives as fruitful and meaningful as we can.

I know now that my work lies ahead of me. I also know that I have an extra guardian angel watching over me and that should I need your strength, assurance, guidance, wisdom and love; all I need to ask you and remember the times that we had together.

I know I shall meet him again and perhaps when I do, he'd even be able to dictate and read back this blog to me word for word.

I shall finish the book in your name and continue to do my little bit of good in this world for you have done so much good as well. And you already started that by being my Dad.

I Love you Dad.

Irronmith D'ethenedren

your son, Casey

A "HEROES" Thank You

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Early Saturday afternoon at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Ballroom 20 was stuffed to capacity for what moderator Jeph Loeb called the "'Heroes' Thank You."

Rumor has it that even "Heroes" staff writer Bryan Fuller could not be admitted after the doors were closed. At last year's Comic-Con, "Heroes" debuted the 72-minute "Heroes" pilot, and the cast and crew of the show said the success they're enjoying now is due in no small part to the fans who watched the pilot last year and spread the word.

Loeb first brought out panelist Jack Coleman (HRG a.k.a. Noah Bennett), who was sporting a white t-shirt with the word "I'm just a paper salesman" hastily scrawled across the front. Next up was Noah Gray-Cabey (Micah), followed by Greg Grunberg (Parkman), the latter wearing a custom-made t-shirt reading "Milo is my hero." Then Loeb brought out Ali Larter (Niki/Jessica) and James Kyson Lee. Masi Oka (Hiro) came out wearing a custom "Hayden is my Hero" t-shirt, and the cheerleader herself, Hayden Panettiere was hot on his heels. Then Adrian Pasdar (Nathan), Zachary Quinto (Sylar) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder) took the stage, followed by new Season 2 cast member Dania Ramieriez (Maya). The last to take the stage were Milo Ventimiglia (Peter), artist Tim Sale and series creator and executive producer Tim Kring.

Kring kicked off the panel with a heartfelt thank-you to all of the fans who supported the young show at last year's Comic-Con. Loeb then announced the winner of NBC.com's "Heroes" Graphic Novel Contest (Andrew Chandler). Loeb also told the assembled fans that Ubisoft is currently working on a "Heroes" video game. And with that, Loeb opened up the floor to Q&A.

First up, a fan professed his and his wife's love for Greg Grunberg's character.

"Yes, I swing," the actor responded without skipping a beat. (Hmmmmmmm)

One audience member asked the cast to sound off on their best memories from season 1. Grunberg liked playing future, badass Parkman, Hayden cited the scene in the first-season finale when she jumped out the window, and Coleman said his favorite moment was episode 11, when he went from a guest star to a series regular.

"You wanted more HRG, you got more HRG," Loeb said.

Loeb took a moment to single out the writing and directing staff in the audience, who stood to an ovation from the crowd.

"This show happens in the writers' room first," Kring said. He went on to describe himself and the rest of the show's writers as a "league of heroic scribblers."

Throughout the first season, supplemental graphic-novel content by artist Tim Sale was posted on the "Heroes" Web site at NBC.com. Loeb announced that this fall, Wildstorm would be releasing a collection of all the online material, and gave the audience a peek at cover images by Alex Ross and Him Lee.

As an aside, Grunberg blurted out, "Being this close to Sendhil, he is gorgeous." Then Ramamurthy planted what appeared to be a wet kiss on his fellow cast member's lips. (Yeow! HOT!)

Next up, Kring addressed "Heroes: Origins," the six episode spin-off that will air over six consecutive weeks starting in April of next year. Each episode will be stand-alone and feature a new hero coming to terms with their powers. Since participating in "Origins" only requires a one-episode commitment, Kring has compiled a short list of ideal writers and directors they'd like to bring into the "Heroes" family.

Then, they made an announcement which apparently surprised even the cast: Kevin Smith had signed on to do an episode. Smith then took the stage himself, and recounted his first conversation with Kring about the opportunity.

"I'd love to write and direct an episode about the two gay heroes," Smith had told Kring. "The Japanese dudes, they're gay, right?"

Smith said having the opportunity to write and direct an episode of "Origins" was an honor: He and his wife had plowed through the first season.

"I just don't wanna be the guy that ruins 'Heroes,'" Smith admitted.

Grunberg, who is a childhood friend of writer/director J.J. Abrams, volunteered Abrams' as another option to helm an episode of "Origins."

Then actor Danny Bonaduce took the Q&A microphone and asked if the cast members "live and die" by each script. The answer was a resounding yes.

"It keeps you on your toes," Larter said.

"When they cancel your hit show, your life kind of sucks for a while," Bonaduce warned.

In the past, Pasdar has heralded Nathan Petrelli as more evil than his amoral character Profit from a show of the same name. One fan asked if Pasdar still felt that way after Nathan's self-sacrificing act of redemption in the season one finale.

"One has a moral code, the other is a politician," Pasdar, the husband of Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines, reiterated.

Another fan accused Hiro and Ando of being the "least traditionally masculine" heroes on the show.

"Wait until season two," Oka teased.

When asked if Uluru, the rock monster that graced the cover of an early issue of the comic "9th Wonders," would be making an appearance in the show proper, Kring said the monster only existed in the pages of the comic book.

"This show doesn't posit an ending," Kring said, when asked how long the series would run. Shows like "Lost," to which "Heroes" is oft compared, have a built-in end point, but "Heroes" is open-ended, he said.

One female fan asked if we could expect to see strong female characters who aren't cheerleaders or strippers. Loeb promised that new cast-member Ramirez's character fits that bill. And Kring pointed out that even Claire and Niki grew and evolved by the end of the first season.

Before it was revealed that Peter Petrelli was Claire's uncle, many "Heroes" fans wanted to see those two characters get together. One fan asked if there was still any chance of that happening.

"Not only are we related, but my character's younger than me," Panettiere said. Ventimiglia believes the two characters share a strong bond, but neither actors foresees it turning into a romance.

Kring got in the last word. He said the huge, diverse community that has grown out of the show's fan base is "all a metaphor for what the show's really about." In a few months' time, he said, Kring intends to start a dialogue with the audience about how to channel that passion and commitment into acts of philanthropy.

The cast and crew are still early in the production of season two, but fans were treated to a brief trailer for the upcoming season. Highlights include a scene between Parkman and Molly Walker in which she is accosted by the malevolent figure she alluded to at the end of Season 1, and a scene in which Claire appears to be about to cut off her own toe.

Everyone in the audience walked away with two "Heroes" convention exclusives: an issue of the "Heroes" comic, and the first-run packaging for the first season of "Heroes" on DVD.

Season two of "Heroes" premiers on September 24th.

-------------------YATTA!!!!------------------------ (of course, I just had to add this)

BALROG Dictionary

This started from a conversation I had with Nick about movies and missing the recent Pirates flick; of which I added that I should be in a "right" frame of mind watching the movie for I slept through the latter part of the 2nd movie. Was just too tired then. I was out like a light in the cinema. The word I used to describe me then was.."BORLOG!!!" That started it all. (we were both laughing like crazy and prompt people to ask what we both were on...gee, crack and saccharine?)

So for a week, I had funny images and situtations of our beloved creature in my head. And these are the result... Happy Reading! - CAZ/Greyhame

ps. For the non Middle Earth denizen, Balrog is the creature that Gandalf fought in Fellowship of the Ring, hence the pic. And no...we don't look alike but if sleepy, sluggish and pissed I can probably be its twin.

 

BALRUGAN - Isang uri ng pagkatha ng mga salitang nauukol sa katangian ng isang BALROG.

BALROG - Isang nilalalang na ubod ng kasamaan na nababalot sa apoy, may pakpak, sungay at may hawak na latigo. Nakatira sa ilalim ng Moria. (di sya cute)

BORLOG - Sleeping BALROG in the Cinema

BUANG - BALROG na natawa at nawala sa sarili

BUGAK (1) - Ang paghalakhak ng BALROG na Katawag pansin

BARLA - ang BALROG na nangwawarla

BARLUSH - BALROG na Bading (minsan may shades of Purple)

BAR - Kung Saan sila nagtitipon

BING - ang pagtatawag ng 2 bading na BARLOG

BOKYA - Barlog na nabuko sa kakapanggap

BONNGA - Balrog na tanga!

BAKTOL - Balrog na tumira ng katol

BANTHA - Isang nilalang na walang kinalaman sa Barlog. (dahil Star Wars yun, engot!)

BARLOW - Apelyidong pangtao na gamit ng isang Balrog pag nasa mundo ng tao. (naging Boy Band at one point in the 90's)

BULKAN - Isang typo na nangyayari sa pagmamadali ng pag-type ng isang Balrog sa makinilya. Ibang nilalang kasi. (Star Trek reference: Di maarok ang matalas na tenga) - Balrog shakes head.

BELAT - Ang stretch marks sa puson ng isang Balrog na nanganak.

BLAG - Isang nadapa na Balrog

BLABAG - Ang nadapang Balrog na may nadaganan. (Maari kapwa Balrog din)

BLAGABAG - Ang pagbagsak ng mga gamit tulad ng Ref, malaking Plasma TV, Aircon, Tall Bookshelves, at anumang malapit o katabing gusali mula sa BLAG o BLABAG ng isang Balrog. (Hayop!)

BALABAL - Scarf ng Balrog (di magamit, laging sunog)

BAYOT - Balrog na mahilig sa iyot. (Halay!)

BALWA - Balrog na nakatingin sa KAWALAN

BALURA - Balrog na nagmumura

BAKTONG - Balrog na bakat ang utong. (Ouch, maapoy!)

BALUWA - Balrog na luwa ang dibdib (wow laki)

BALIKO - Balrog na mahilig maglaro ng piko.

BALTIK - Balrog na may alagang Itik.

BANTOG - Balrog na nauntog. (laki kasi)

BATIK - Balrog na Adik

BATING - Balrog na nakalulon ng kuting. (uy si ALF!)

BANLAG - Balrog na nalaglag. (sa puno?)

BALMANG - Balrog na Timang

BORAT - Balrog na maarat. (Huh? May lahing Hapon)

BUGAK (2) - Balrog na namutla sa pagputi ng Uwak