Book Launch

Coverage of the Vistage CEO tea talk and commemorative book launch event held on 14 January 2010, at Sime Darby Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Duration : 0:3:57

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Hey I did some searching on Amazon discussion board and stumbled upon this gem.

M. Austin/heliacal rising says:
"I’m not completely sure how events will transpire in ‘Brisingr’, but I know how the cycle will end.

During the final showdown, Galbatorix injures Saphira to the point where she must withdraw from the battle. Galbatorix then tempts Eragon to give in to his anger. A ferocious duel erupts between Murtagh (wielding Zar’roc) and Eragon (wielding Blamdring, a sword given to him by a wizard named Randalf the Magenta). Murtagh then toys with the idea of turning Arya to the ‘naughty side’, which enrages Eragon and provokes him to brutally slice off Murtagh’s hand. But despite Galbatorix’s goading, Eragon refuses to kill Murtagh, stating instead that he is a true Dragonrider.

Realizing Eragon is a lost cause, Galbatorix begins blasting him with powerful magic missile bursts. In unspeakable pain, Eragon begs Murtagh for help. Unable to bear the sight of his brother’s torture, Murtagh repents and throws Galbatorix down a reactor shaft to his death. However, Galbatorix’s magic missile attack destroys the life support system Murtagh is forced to wear after the events of ‘Brisingr’. Thus, after a teary exchange with Eragon, Murtagh passes away.

The obliteration of Galbatorix launches his fully operational battle station, the Doom Mount Kill-Sun, into a self destruct sequence. With Saphira indisposed, Eragon is luckily rescued at the last second by giant talking pigeons that call themselves the ‘Large Birds’. After Eragon questions their speaking ability, the Large Birds reveal that they originally lived in the land of Marnia. In Marnia all animals can talk, children from different lands can travel there through cupboards, and they live with a godlike liger named Taslan. But I digress…that’s a story for the next Paolini cycle.

Anyway…Murtagh’s apparition appears to Eragon in the last scene, chilling out with the ghosts of Brom and Oromis. This is the same scene where Randalf the Magenta and his merry band of Frobbits sing a rousing tune with furry little creatures called Gleewoks. There’s also a brief shot of some random guy in Urû’baen exclaiming "Weesa free!"

In the epilogue, taking place years after the ‘Inheritance’ adventure, we see Eragon and Saphira departing Alagaësia on a ship headed for Flalinor, the Not-Dying Place."

I laughed so hard when I read this.

I am looking forward to reading Brisingr btw. What do y’all think? How’s the new book? Can’t wait to get mine tonight.
BTW this isn’t really a spoiler, just someone adding to the idea of the author stealing from other stories.

haha! sweet! i liked the part with the giant birds, marnia, and the frobbits. very creative and original on paloni’s part, lol

eragon rocks!

A new book titled My Goodness: My Kids, Cultivating Decency in a Dangerous World, is out in print and ready to party. Join us in a celebration of childhood Goodness, Decency, Honor, and Integrity. When you give your children a “Good Shot,” you give your neighborhood an enhanced sense of security.

Duration : 0:9:50

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If you have seen the show, you know how it is played. I give you the answer and you have to give me the question. The only difference is that you need to give all 5 questions instead of just one.

Today’s category is 2001 – Events which made the news

$100 Question: This “Material Girl” tied the knot with this British film director.

$200 Question: Chris Columbus directed the first movie based on J.K. Rowlings book series about a “magical” boy.

$300 Question: This “Pretty Woman” accidentally forgot to pay homage to the real-life woman she portrayed as she gave her 2001 Oscar speech.

$400 Question: This Oscar nominated “Little Woman” made the bad news headlines when she was arrested for shoplifting over $5,000 in clothing and accessories.

$500 Question: This Russian Space Station launched in February, 1996. It reentered the Earth’s atmosphere and crashed in March of 2001.

Remember to answer in the form of a question! (Who is… What is… )
The $100 question requires 2 names.
$200 question requires more than the boy’s name – it is the name of the movie.
Disregard the update about the $200 question – the name is fine.

who are madonna and guy ritchie?
Who is harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone?
who is Julia Roberts?
who is wynonna rider?
what is the MIR Station?

ok so i am taking an illustration class.. and we just launched our final project where we should do a fairy tale book with all the illustrations in each page showing the sequence of the events..

but the twist here is, that we should invent a fairy tale from an already existing one but with the interference of another character from another fairy tale.
like lets say im doing Cinderella, the story should start by the usually Cinderella story, and for example when Cinderella ran at 12.00 and lost her shoe, peter pan came and stole the shoe before the prince .. and there forward the events of the story should change and the end would be different\

so could u help me with some fairy tale ideas because i want my story to be special and unique
thanks!

Thumbelina finds a beanstalk and climbs it?

Hansel and Gretel outwit the same witch who locked Rapunzel in her tower?

Cinderella comes across the enchanted apple and eats it instead of Snow White?

US Senate candidate Ned Lamont (D-CT) at the It Takes A Nation book launch event at Crobar in New York, 8/24/06. For more information visit http://civic.moveon.org/ittakesanation. Camera / Editor: Brian Branigan.

Duration : 0:2:2

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I read this on Wikipedia, is this true?

PG era

On April 15, 2008, WWE launched their WWE Kids comic book and website for the younger audience; the comic is distributed Bi-Monthly and 100,000 copies of the first WWE comic were sent to Wal-Mart alone. On July 28, 2008, WWE made the transition from TV-14 to TV-PG rating, making all shows and pay-per-view events family-friendly, thus eliminating most of the adult theme and elements before the transition.

So less violence and sexual stuff? isn’t that what made it good, WWE was soap opera’s for guyz now is it really kittie stuff?

I think they just realized they are getting a bigger kid audience, probably started with Cena. So many kids idolize him, but who knows. Being a mom, who has watched wrestling since childhood (since early 80’s) I have seen so many changes over the years, but having a young son I can say I don’t miss the sexual content..and BTW kittie refers to cats…you probably mean kiddie, as in kids. Nothing lasts forever, most likely it will change over to something else someday too or push the envelop again in the future.

Clips from the Q and A during the HIS COLD FEET book launch party with author Andrea Passman Candell. Jan. 31, 2008, Books Inc. San Francisco. Books Inc donated 20% of all sales during the event to the Breast Cancer Fund! HIS COLD FEET: a guide for the woman who wants to tie the knot with the guy who wants to talk about it later (St. Martin’s Press) is in stores now and available on Amazon. Visit HisColdFeet.com.

Duration : 0:3:52

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http://www.denverpost.com/ci_8067281?source=rss

* The captain apologized for the inconvenience and the horrific events of earlier in the evening.
* He went on to say that he has flown all over the world for United and has never experienced anything like we did that night.

Flight 1028 passenger: I thought we would crash
By Carter Robertson Special to The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 01/24/2008 04:16:48 PM MST

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* Jan 21:
* 10 hospitalized on turbulent United flight

Editor’s note: Carter Robertson was on United Flight 1028 with his wife, daughter and future son-in-law on Monday. They had been in Hawaii on vacation and were returning to Virginia. The plane encountered turbulence and was diverted to Denver at 2:55 a.m. Eight passengers and two flight attendants were injured.

The plane was close to being full — 187 counting crew — and it was approaching the time for take-off. Everyone was getting settled in for the relatively short flight to Chicago. As we rolled down the runway, I’m sure no one had any idea of what was to come.

As we approached the 37,000-foot mark, the captain turned off the seat belt light. The flight attendants were handing out drinks to passengers some 3 to 4 rows in front of me. The flight thus far, again, was so remarkably smooth that I would say it felt as if we were floating on clouds.

I had decided I would pass on a drink and start with my nap. I had not yet closed my eyes when without any warning — not even the slightest hint of what was about to happen — it happened.

* In a split-second some indescribable force violently sucked the plane 700-vertical feet up and in another split second pushed it down the same 700 feet. ( Care to look up the probability of survival in a physics book’)
* How did he know it was 700 feet up & down?
* What does the radar for the weather report say about this?
* Is there any recorded incident in aviation history that even resembles this?
* Satellite imagery readings?

People who weren’t buckled in were thrown up, hitting the bulkhead. I was buckled in tight but was suspended above my seat during the roller-coaster ride.

* The flight attendants were also launched up into the plane’s ceiling, bouncing off and returning to the cabin floor.

The drink cart was lifted off the floor and landed at an angle against a passenger. One female flight attendant was injured while pulling the cart off the passenger. Pillows, blankets, ice, drink cups and drink cans flew across the plane in every direction. Women and children (and, I’m sure, even some men) screamed.

* The force wasn’t just a smooth up-and-down movement.
* The plane was in a constant state of vibrating, shuddering and rolling during this unexpected vertical ride.
* There is no way I can do justice in describing the violent nature of this unprovoked attack upon the aircraft.

I can only say that in the 5-10 seconds this event occurred that many things raced through my mind. In an instant I knew we were all dead, that the plane could not possibly withstand the violent forces attacking it at from every angle.

* As the thoughts continued to race, seconds ticked by, and the plane was now in a 6,000 foot nose dive.
* I quickly realized that the plane had actually survived one of nature’s most wicked forces, and now we were racing toward the Rocky Mountains at 400 mph. Probability of survival from this incident? +700 to -7– ft. and then a 6,000 ft, ‘dive’.

Just like in the movies, the noise from the jet engines was increasing in decibels and in pitch. My attention now shifted to the dive of the plane and what was taking place in the cockpit. Was the captain in control?

I don’t know how long the dive lasted, but slowly the plane leveled, and the engine noise subsided.

The captain did have control of the plane.

I looked to my right at my wife. We could only shake our heads. It was moments latter before anyone could say anything.

Once the plane was in control, the flight attendants went about the job of assessing the injuries to the passengers. I can’t begin to express my sincere gratitude for the clam, professional and courageous manner in which the flight crew handled the aftermath of the event.

It was probably five minutes later when the captain came over the intercom and informed us that due to injuries and possible damage to the plane that we would stop at Denver, and that paramedics would be on hand to treat the injured.

We were in the terminal for about 45-60 minutes when the captain came out and addressed the passengers. The captain apologized for the inconvenience and the horrific events of earlier in the evening. He went on to say that he has flown all over the world for United and has never experienced anything like we did that night.

He assured us that the rest of the flight to Chicago would be uneventful, and he was right.

My everlasting praise goes out to the crew of United Flight 1028. Outstanding job. Outstanding job.

Sounds like the plot of a good novel. In point of fact, it is: the name of the novel is Airframe, and you might want to read it. In that one, the aircraft survived intact, but one of the many passengers died; he broke his neck or something when he landed on his head or something.

Now, how the heck could anyone calculate the chances of surviving or not surviving such an incident. Accidents happen. They probably won’t figure out what happened for a long time, if ever, but they’ll sure try. Some weird wind got it. I had a bad time on a flight to New Orleans once. It wasn’t nearly that bad, but the flight crew was not a bit happy.

Its official, Conan O’Brien is leaving NBC and Jay Leno will once again be the tonight show host

Here is the story from THR-The hollywood reporter:Conan O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” dream is over.

After only seven months hosting NBC’s iconic late-night show, O’Brien is leaving NBC.

The teams of representatives for NBC and O’Brien on Friday night were still finalizing a financial settlement that would end the network and the late-night host’s 21-year relationship.

Details about a settlement are still fuzzy, but sources estimated that the payoff to O’Brien could reach $40 million.

The deal looks on track to close over the weekend.

One of the sticking issues has been on whether O’Brien’s contract guarantees him the 11:35 p.m. time slot, with sources close to the host insisting that it does, and sources at the network being adamant that it doesn’t. Once source portrayed the issue as being a matter of NBC’s intent rather than the contract spelling out the exact time: Did promising O’Brien "The Tonight Show" inherently indicate an 11:35 p.m. slot?

Either way, a quick settlement prevents NBC from having to go to court over "The Tonight Show," a unacceptable option to the network which could have publicly dragged out its struggle with O’Brien for months or even years.

After a week of tense negotiations, exacerbated by O’Brien’s Tuesday open letter defying NBC’s plan to move his ”Tonight Show” to 12:05 a.m. to make room for a Jay Leno-hosted half-hour show at 11:35 p.m. as well as by NBC’s sports chief Dick Ebersol’s harsh words for O’Brien, the two sides moved closer to an agreement at the end of the week.

Key people in the negotiations have included NBC Uni Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin and NBC Entertainment chairman Marc Graboff, O’Brien’s longtime reps, WME’s Rick Rosen and manager Gavin Polone as well as Universal Studios’ president Ron Meyer, who was brought in earlier this week to break the impasse.

The news is the latest twist in a dramatic series of events that led to an overhaul of a major chunk of NBC’s schedule in the middle of the broadcast season following an outcry by the network’s affiliate stations whose late newscasts were hit hard by the anemic ratings for “The Jay Leno Show” at 10 p.m.

O’Brien is expected to continue hosting "Tonight" through the end of next week, when the show was previously scheduled to go dark for a week.

On the Friday “Tonight,” O’Brien treated his imminent departure as a fait accompli, spending the opening half-hour taking jabs at NBC ("In the press this week, NBC has been calling me every name in the book. In fact, they think I’m such an idiot they now want me to run the network"), auctioning off “Tonight” memorabilia as well as the show itself, as well as running a “Best of” retrospective of his short run on the show.

In light of O’Brien’s departure, Jay Leno, who will wrap the primetime “Leno Show” Feb.12, would resume command of "Tonight Show," the late-night post he previously held for 17 years, March 1.

That’s when NBC also will roll out its revised midseason schedule that features scripted dramas, reality and newsmagazines 10 p.m.

With his exit almost finalized, the big question is where O’Brien will land, and when will his presumed next show launch. Fox, which has expressed interest in launching a weeknight late-night franchise fronted by O’Brien, is the most obvious option.

However, the network’s toppers have made it clear they are not in any rush to jump in as a decision to do so would involve a financial hit to the affiliates, the same problem that ultimately led to the late-night turmoil at NBC.

Shedding O’Brien and putting Leno back in charge of “Tonight” will give NBC the opportunity to get its schedule back on track, but at a very high cost. The network’s pilot development last year was derailed with the vanishing of its 10 p.m. dramas.

The network also spent millions on new sets and the launch of both “Tonight” and “Jay Leno” and then had to face ratings down spiral both at 10 p.m. and 11:35 p.m., which led to revenue loss.

(Leno is expected, at least for the time being,” to stay put in the studio that housed his primetime show.)

Additionally, the NBC and “Tonight Show” brands have arguably been tarnished, with the network having been painted as clumsy at best and villainous at worst in its handling of the issue

Also taking a hit is the reputation of Leno, who has been roundly criticized for his relatively passive role in the shakeup.

Also there is, of course, NBC’s loss of O’Brien — a star at the network whose passionate fans are planning a support rally outside NBC Universal studios on Monday — with an excellent chance of him becoming a competitor to boot.

The Tonight Show should end when O’Brien leaves. Jay Leno should be put out to pasture. NBC screwed up and lost its top spot for the 11:30 slot and won’t get it back by giving it to Leno. I hope Conan O’Brien goes to Fox or another network and kicks NBC’s butt. NBC has lost their audience’s respect and will lose their audience when O’Brien leaves.