Christina Perri's Distance Official Music Video Featuring Jason Mraz

Distance is my most favorite song next to Jar of Hearts from all of Christina Perri's Lovestrong songs. That is why I was happy when I heard that this is the next  song she's going to make a music video of. I was even more delighted when I heard that Jason Mraz will be featured in the video.

Now come June 29, 2012, my exaggerated wait for the said video has come to an end. And it did certainly satisfy. This music video that is directed by Elliott Sellers is a box of memories and reminiscence and what ifs. It tackles mostly one of the most talked about issues: unrequited love. Lucky for Christina Perri, her song does not delve on holding on for this hopeless romanticism, but finds her happiness in other things by giving the person she loved the most distance.

Check out Christina Perri's Distance music video here:

This very touching music video is certainly a display of visual and auditory bliss. Watching this very plainly expressed message of the soul puts me back on a time when everything was still very good for me. It triggers the mind to reminisce on your memories just like the collage of pictures posted on the wide wall on the video.

They wanted me to tear all of these the same way Christina Perri did. They are so good memories that they don't apply anymore on your damned present. They are just scattered pieces of your past that need not be touched again since they only stir some hurtful thoughts and emotions.

Updated: Check out an exclusive behind the scene video from Elle for the music video of Distance as Chritina Perri and Director Elliot Sellers explain the video, together with Jason Mraz.



Letting go is the only answer and giving one's freedom and distance might be helpful for both you and whoever or whatever you hold on to those memories. Holding on to someone or something that does not want you back may be the very poison that will destroy you. Be strong and give it the freedom it deserves -- give that person distance. And move on with your life...

Also follows Christina Perri's acoustic performance of Distance featuring Jason Mraz. Followed by what Jason Mraz has to say about the collaboration from his website:

"Distance is certainly a favorite of all the videos I've been a part of. It’s rare to make a video where the outcome is exactly what the director foretold. Elliott Sellers' vision is clear and he executed each shot with style and finesse.

"It’s important to like the person who’s operating the camera (as well as the crew), as they’re the ones you’re performing for first. AND I am thankful for the way they can take a dork like me and pair him with a radiant beauty like Christina and make it work.

"As for the song itself, I’ve told Christina about a hundred times how grateful I am to be the one singing this with her. The sweeping melody paired with the tension in the story makes singing Distance feel more like an event than just a song.

"I knew people would fall for this song."

Check out these behind-the-scene photos taken by Polina Rabtseva as bonus treats:

Did you notice that all of Christina Perri's music videos are purely artistic expressions at their best? All of them are very simple to comprehend, but at times there are double meanings that boggle ones mind. They are always fresh and uniquely conceptualized. That is why I am always looking forward for the next videos she's going to release... Much more for her next album, who knows when it will be released, or if there will ever be one.

Kernel's Library: The Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Book 00025: Magyk by Angie Sage

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Title:
- Septimus Heap: Magyk

First Publication:
- March 2005 by HarperCollins

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Trivia:
- Warner Brothers have bought the rights to produce a film adaptation of the book, but the movie hasn't been green lit so far.

Awards:
- Parents' Choice Awards for Audio Book
- 2007 Great Stone Face Children's Book Award
- Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee 2008
- Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2005
- Nominated for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

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The Harry Potter drive doesn't ebb right away. Everyone is eagerly awaiting for the next book to come. But I wanted to go away from Harry Potter for a while and read other books. So I bought the first book of the Septimus Heap series -- Magyk. This is different from the Potter series as this book revolves in an entirely different world, whereas Harry Potter has a world that co-mingles with us.

Everything has turned to catastrophe as the queen is murdered, the princess is missing, and the seventh son of the seventh son, born to on Ordinary Wizard family, is taken away by the midwife -- for within a few hours after its birth it died. These are the effects of the DomDaniel's, Supreme Commander and Necromancer, evil plan: let Dark Magyk rule the kingdom.



Jenna Heap is the only girl among the seven children of Silas and Sara Heap. One day the Extra Ordinary Wizard, Marcia Overstrand, makes a surprise visit that would change it all. She declared that Jenna is the Queenling, the princess, and an Assassin is on the way to their home to murder her.

The family was scattered and they run to hide for safety. Though Marcia manages to stop the Assassin's attempt on the princess' life, an even more lethal assasin was sent to finish the task. As they continue their escape, they met Boy 412 of the Young Army.

They hide in the Marram Marshes with the White Witch, Zelda Heap. There they discovered unexpected things for who would have thought that the Heap's dead son was actually alive and only he, the seventh son of the seventh son, has enough Magyk to fight the Darknesse and restore the Queenling to her throne.

The book is beautifully created although at times the story comes to a "slow flow." The entirety, though, is quite amazing and the subplots are fantastic. This book has a definition of magic of its own and that's what gave it its identity.

Grade: B

Mature Jennifer Lawrence Featured in The Silver Linings Playbook Trailer

After Jennifer Lawrence secured a role in The Hunger Games and showed us that she really is the new it, new projects kept pouring on her way. As a matter of fact she still has at least three movies lined up this year. One of them is Silver Lining Playbook, which will be released on November 21, 2012 in the US.

Jennifer Lawrence portrays Tiffany, a love interest of the troubled Pat Solitano played by Bradley Cooper. She plays a mature role in this one, sharing that the character had sex with everybody in her office. Her Esquire photo shoot made sure that she could snag daring roles, despite her being an almost noob on the Hollywood scene.

Check out this new trailer of Silver Linings Playbook:

Updated: The poster of The Silver Linings Playbook:

The Silver Linings Playbook movie is directed by David O. Russell and was based on a book of the same title written by Matthew Quick. It was produced and distributed by Mirage Enterprises and The Weinstein Company, respectively. The trailer premiered at the Cannes Film Fetival, to the delight of the critics and audience alike, due to well-played acting and performances.

This movie tells the story of a former teacher (Bradley Cooper), who was released after undergoing a treatment in a mental institution. He has to retrace what he has left behind during this episode by reconciling with his ex-wife, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). The cast also includes Robert De Niro, playing Pat's father, Anupam Kher, Chris Tucker, Taylor Schilling, Shea Whigham, Julia Stiles, Jacki Weaver, and John Ortiz.

Here Comes the Boom Trailer Features A Still Demure Charice

I always liked the old version of Charice, back when she still has long dark locks. She looked better during her Glee era rather than her present get-up that I can't even explain what or why... Lucky for me we can still have a glimpse of this old version of Charice through Here Comes the Boom trailer.

In the trailer she still has the naive and demure aura in her, along with her dark and long locks. This is because the movie was shot last year before the drastic changes in her looks happened. She plays a high school student named Malia Dela Cruz, alongside Kevin James' Scott Voss. Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler also add in to the fun and hilarity of this comedy movie.

Check out the two versions of the trailer of Here Comes the Boom:

And here's Charice in a production still from the movie:

This Frank Coraci directed comedy film was produced by Adam Sandler's production studio, Happy Madison. Malia will be one of the students of Scott Voss, who promised to find funds for one of the extracurricular activities of the school he was teaching in, lest the said activity be shut down, crushing the dreams and efforts of his students.

Updated: And here's a like poster of the movie:

Here is the official synopsis of the movie: Former collegiate wrester Scott Voss (James) is a 42-year-old apathetic biology teacher in a failing high school. When cutbacks threaten to cancel the music program and lay off its teacher (Henry Winkler,) Scott begins to raise money by moonlighting as a mixed martial arts fighter. Everyone thinks Scott is crazy – most of all the school nurse, Bella (Hayek) and – but in his quest, Scott gains something he never expected as he becomes a sensation that rallies the entire school.

Here Comes the Boom's expected release will be on October 12, 2012. It is assumed the release date for the Philippines will be around that time also. It will be ditributed by Columbia Pictures, a company under Sony Pictures. This $10 million movie was filmed in just 20 days in Massachusetts, with most of the scenes taken at Quicny High School. This will be the second full length Hollywood movie that Charice has participated in.

Epic Movie Trailer Released by Fox and Blue Sky Studios

Twentieth Century Fox has released a very nice movie trailer for Blue Sky Studio's eighth animated feature film Epic. This is by far the movie that has a very different feel to it compared with the other ones made by the same studio. Of course this will be release after Ice Age: Continental Drift, and will hit your local theaters on May 24, 2013.

This wonderfully mature-like movie was based on The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, a book written by William Joyce. Chris Wedge, helmer of Ice Age and Robots, returns to direct this movie adaptation, starring no other than Beyonce Knowles together with Amanda Seyfried, Colin Farrell, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis, Johnny Knoxville, Aziz Ansari, Steven Tyler and Josh Hutcherson.

Check out this trance inducing trailer of Epic, thanks to Snow Patrol's The Lightning Strike for background music:



I am a little bit excited with this one since it was made by one of the animation studios that I really loved: Blue Sky Studios. After seeing the video, I just can't get off the feeling that this seems like a little too Avatar-ish for me, but in a good way. Plus a mixture of Arthur and the Invisibles, with a little hint of Elizabeth Kay's The Divide.

Updated: Here is the latest trailer for Epic:

If you feel like it, you could listen to Snow Patrol's The Lightning Strike full song here:

This movie will be a "battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and evil." It revolves around a girl that was mysteriously tranported to a magical and secret land. She discovered that aside from going home to where she really belongs, she must first save this enchanted world. If she will not be able to do this, the world of our own will be set to a destrcution as well. In order to achieve this feat, she must solicit the help of a rag-tag team of strange folks -- the only people she could trust at the moment.

Maroon 5: One More Night Official Music Video From Vevo

Updated: Added some behind the scene photos of the One More Night Set.

Here's your early serving of a Maroon 5 dish, complete with appetizers and dessert. Vevo has just released the much awaited and yet again destructive music video of One More Night by Maroon 5. Much like the music video for Payphone, One More Night showcases a little of Adam Levine's acting and all.

Thank goodness Maroon 5 has somehow focused on the Pop genre, because honestly their alternative songs mostly sucked especially on their Hands All Over album. Hopefully they will continue on creating songs like this and none of the bullshit that most of the times makes me cringe.

Could you relate with this love drama featured in One More Night music video:

All love story starts out well until such a time that the infatuation dies out as lectured to us by John Legend's Ordinary People: "This ain't the honeymoon, Past the infatuation phase..." Only the difference in this one and Maroon 5's version on being fed up over a relationship is she's not waiting to see her lover go down. One last chance and that's it. Is it just me or is this really coincidentally timing with Adam's breaking up with Anne V?

Directed by famous film helmer Peter Berg, One More Night premiered over MTV and was followed by a 30-minute live chat with the band's front liner, Adam Levine. This music video was filmed on April 20, 2012 together with Mink Kelly, playing as the singers's lover in the video.

The sad part here is one of them is not really willing to forgo one's dream over the relationship, forcing the other half of the love story be fed up and discontented. That is sometimes hard to see especially if one's dream is more important than one's loved ones. Because of this the affected party has to do bad things. And this is what Mink has to say about that: "I play a heartbreaker, I guess. I do very bad things... but necessary."

Well, maybe the morale of this story is to balance every aspect of your life that none of these parts may feel a little left out, aggravated or unfair. Jealousy is normal: much more a jealousy with a foundation. That's just about it: Balance every thing. Only, I have to say that the girl is a little bit short of understanding...

Updated: Here are some behind the scene photos from the set of One More Night:

On a different note, Adam Levine is certainly gearing up his acting in this music video, especially after we heard he's gonna play a major role in a musical hollywood movie called A Song Can Save Your Life? together with veteran actress Keira Knightley.

Multimedia: Seeking a Friend at the End of the World

From time to time we do find people that leave marks on our lives and somehow contribute to the person that we are now. Others are for keep-sake, while others go right away the moment you meet them at your own liking. But a sadder truth is a few of them leave without you wanting it.

It is always in my belief that some of these people are worthy of your company even to the end of time. They might find it a very big responsibility, but it is actually a compliment on their part. Most of the time, they wouldn't understand that need, but come a time that the tables are turned, they would understand and somehow regret it.

I just hope that life is just like these treasures I found online, but unfortunately it isn't:

End of the World by Ingrid Michaelson

I first heard of this song early this year, when Ingrid Michaelson's Human Again album was released. Aside from being the best album that she has released so far, this album features the a song that I consider her very best. That's right, it's this song. This song gives me hope that no matter what happens someone will always be there for you. Its lyrics tells it all.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

This post-apocalyptic drama is a personal favorite of mine. I was once not quite a fan of Suzanne Collins during the reign of her The Underland Chronicles, which I have actually bought ages ago. But thanks to the redeeming effect of her next series, The Hunger Games, my once shaky belief on her turned solid despite her sometimes disorganized array of locks. I even loved her more when the movie adaptation of the first book was released with a very satisfactory feel to it.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

This just recently released movie, starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, may find a comic relief in this very depressing topic. So far, this trailer just gave me an idea of watching it one of these days. Before we reach all our untimely conclusion, we might as well watch this and gain a few more laughter and chuckle. I am desperate for something funny, because nothing seems to make me laugh anymore.

A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham

Another yet to be discovered beauty is a book from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours: Michael Cunningham. The book revolves around two boyhood friends and their undertakings. One, named Jonathan, is lonely, introspective and unsure of himself. Another is called Bobby, who is hip, dark and inarticulate. This book was adapted to a 2004 movie, starring Colin Farrell, Robin Wright Penn, Dallas Roberts and Sissy Spacek.

Kernel's Library: The Unmatched Power of Reading

Book 00024: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

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Title:
- Inkheart

First Publication:
- 23 September 2003 by Chicken House

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Trivia:
- A movie version of this book was released on January 30, 2009.
- Critics have praised Funke as the "German J. K. Rowling".
- Cornelia Funke is also an illustrator; she illustrated almost all of her books.

Awards:
- Colorado Children’s Book Award for Junior Novel
- 2004 Mythopoeic-Children finalist
- 2003 BookSense Book of the Year Children's Literature
- 2004 Preis der Jury der jungen Leser
- 2004 Phantastik-Preis der Stadt Wetzlar
- 2004 Kalbacher Klapperschlange
- New York Times Bestseller
- ALSC Notable Recording
- YALSA Audio Book and Alternative Media Recordings

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I was kind of glad that I am not the only one excited about this book as a classmate of mine eagerly awaited every update on this book as well on the series. Like all Funke books, this one explores the magical with naivete that is quite fascinating and fulfilling. The story once again is very good and has all its Funke trademarks.



This is a story within a story. It started way back when Mo accidentally brought Basta, Capricorn, Dustfinger, and Dustfinger's pet marten, Gwin, to life while reading aloud from the novel called Inkheart.

Dustfinger, a fire eater, is desperate to return to the world of the fictional novel while Capricorn wants Mo (and later, Meggie, who shares her father's unusual gift) to summon an evil monster forged from the ashes of the murdered known as the Shadow, from the fictional novel.

Years after this happened -- and on a rainy night -- Dustfinger and Gwin show up on Meggie and Mo's doorstep begging Mo to send him back to his fictional world. He will do whatever it takes to get back to the land he loves, maybe even betray Mo and Meggie to Capricorn...

Inkheart encourages and helps us understand the pleasures -- as well as excitement -- of reading books. Many fictional books have been included in this book like Peter Pan when while reading the book Meggie let Tinker Bell escape from ink and paper to become a real one. She also conjures up the soldier from "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.

This book is for the young and old alike.

Grade: A

Transformers Alert: Micro Drones are the Future of US Military Surveillance

This news feels like it came out from the most sophisticated of all Science Fictions. But don't be fooled, because reality is stranger than fiction, indeed. US military surveillance is not only investing on drones, but on micro drones at that. Or it could even be nano! This means we could be spied anytime now without our knowing it.

This is certainly the best news any robotics-obsessed folks could get. This is much better than Michael Bay's Transformers that also featured a micro bio-metallic creature that resembled an insect on one of movie's battle scenes. If the present progress of our technology is maintained, maybe it might not be long until we see the world Isaac Asimov conceptualized on one of his futuristic SciFi book.

Think again before saying these are just insects:

The University of Pennsylvania GRASP Lab has showcased a network of 20 nano-quad rotors capable of agile flight, which could swarm and navigate in an environment with obstacles, these are much like mimicking one part of our nature, the insects. These said rotors are product of the lab's effort to build an elusive and hard-to-detect surveillance machine, also known as drones.

This system hopes to achieve not to use remote controls anymore that are present in all current aerial vehicles and robots. Future drones may will operate with little or no direct human supervision. Sweet, right? Sounds like a great breakthrough on Artificail Intelligence to me. But as of the moment, the feature of the showcased drones, which could be boasted in the micro level, is the ability to land at an exact position and take off again in a virtually fast way. This is much different from the ones we have seen before -- with almost no maneourability, can't hover and move fast enough.

This newly designed drones are based on the mechanics of insects, not only in size and body parts but also with their movements and group patterns. This could be well used in tight spaces where the bulky counterparts could not infiltrate. This is also a by-product of researches that has been conducted to generate new insight into how insect wings have evolved over the last 350 million years.

As a proponent of the study, zoologist Richard Bomphrey said: "By learning those lessons, our findings will make it possible to aerodynamically engineer a new breed of surveillance vehicles that, because they are as small as insects and also fly like them, completely blend into their surroundings."

Watch this video released by the GRASP Laboratories, featuring a swarm of Nano Quadrons:

That was the best choreography I have seen ever! If we're talking about formations and order, you know what I mean?

Music Videos Featuring Emma Watson, Rupert Grint or Daniel Radcliffe

Who ever told you Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Daniel Radcliffe are only fitting for movies or stage plays? They are so diversely talented that even the music video industry has been infiltrated by the Harry Potter trio. Of course Emma was the first one to do it in 2010, followed by Rupert on the following year and Daniel just this year.

It's always nice to see the three actors outside of the Harry Potter universe. They have always been stuck on my head as Harry, Hermione and Ron that these new things are always a surprise. I admire their quest on broadening the scope of the craft that they have grown to. They have certainly moved on -- unlike me, according to some people around me, who cannot and is stuck on the past.

Check out the Harry Potter main trio making their way through the music video scenes:

Emma Watson on Say You Don't Want It by One Night Only

Last May 2010, Emma Watson said that she would be featured in the music video of Say You Don't Want It by One Night Only. This was made possible when she met the band's lead singer George Craig at the 2010 Winter/Summer Burberry advertising campaign. The said video was first screened last June 26, 2010 on Channel 4 and was released to the general public on August 16 and was later featured on the band's Youtube Vevo page on July 13 of the same year.

The Say You Don't Want It music video was directed by James Less and was filmed in New York and features the prominently visible hot dog restaurant called Gray's Papaya among many other locations. More or less Emma Watson plays a girl whom the lead signer met along the New York streets. Until eventually they shared some time together, leading them to become close to each other. And who knows what would come next...


Rupert Grint on Lego House by Ed Sheeran

This was quite a surprise to every fan since there are no big announcements regarding Rupert Grint's involvement on Ed Sheeran's Lego House music video. It was only then known when the music video was released on October 20, 2011 over the singer's official Youtube channel. Rupert and Ed were real life loyal pals -- that explains why he is featured in the singer's music video.

The said video was filmed at the Forum, University of Hertfordshire. It features Rupert Grint as a crazed and obssessed Ed Sheeran fan. He did the lipsynch for most part of the song and later he pretended to be the singer on one of the singer's shows. But of course the security could not be fooled, so that lead to the discovery of his fake identity and almost caused him a mental breakdown. The video ended with Sheeran and Grint meeting as Grint is forcibly removed from the music venue and Sheeran comes out of a lift.


Daniel Radcliffe on Beginners by Slow Club

Now the most recently released music video is from Daniel Radcliffe when he was featured in the Beginners by Slow Club. Just like Rupert, Dan did most of the lip sync parts. This team up was made possible when Radcliffe was asked to interview a member of Slow Club, of which he was a big fan. This one-take music video was filmed at the bar of a pub in The Faltering Fullback in Finsbury Park, London .

It's not really a healthy scene since Dan has to drink the dregs of some other people's pints while snarling in front of the camera. According to a member of the band, "After meeting him for the first time we were pretty blown away by how much he knew about our songs and when the time came to make a video, the director Lucy Needs had the script ready and thought it couldn't hurt to ask." He also added, "We were only on set for an hour or so as we had a show that night but I was surprised by just how focused he was. I've never been near a movie set but I guess being in such a concentrated state of mind is what it takes to get certain things on film."

Which of the three music videos do you like best and who among the three actors nailed it like a professional music video star?

The Voice: New Vicci Martinez Album Labeled Vicci is Released

The 27-year old and The Voice Season 1 third placer Vicci Martinez has released a new album called Vicci under Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. It was released on June 19, 2012 and is available as a compact disc and as for download over iTunes and Amazon. The said album has a 13-track offering that features pop and rock music.

The songs featured in this album are mostly written by the singer herself, with the exception of Come Along, which she has collaboratively worked on with Cee Lo Green. Before hand she released an EP called Come Along, which also features the said song. As of the moment the album is already #10 on the iTunes Pop Chart and is still going strong.

Here are the details of Vicci Marinez's Vicci album:

Vicci Martinez - Vicci Album

Track listing:

1. Come Along (3:31)
2. Run Run Run (3:49)
3. Stop Pretending (3:13)
4. Out of Control (3:48)
5. I Can Love (2:58)
6. Hold Me Darlin' (3:20)
7. Not Washing You Off of Me (3:33)
8. I Want Your Kiss (3:10)
9. Let Go (3:04)
10. Touch That Fire (3:50)
11. Little Faith (3:39)
12. Snake Charmer (3:22)
13. Alive (3:08)

Listen to these samplers taken from Amazon:

After listening to these samplers, would you care to buy her full album or would you rather not? Hopefully, this will not be the last that we will hear from Vicci Martinez since, most of the times, the longevity of the career of artists that came out from talent shows doesn't really last long. Unless the said artist really has the drive and the talent to keep pushing through until the end, then we can expect short-lived dreams and prominence. I just hope it won't happen to Vicci.

4 New Monsters University Teaser Trailers Released by Disney Pixar Patronize Bullying?

Disney Pixar decided a long time ago not to make sequels. But that was a long time ago until Disney and Pixar have some arguments whether they are going to make a sequel for Toy Story or not. Pixar believed that sequels should only be made if they can come up with a story as good as the original. Eventually, the idea of having a sequel ruled and went through.

So far, the studio has created sequels for Toy Story with Toy Story 2 and 3. It was a success that was never shared by Cars 2, another sequel. Going away from the sequel scene, they are proceeding with a prequel, this time for Monsters, Inc. It 's called Monsters University, chronicling the days of Mike and Sulley at said university.

See for you self not one but four trailers of Monsters University, each one with varying lines from Mike (Courtesy of Youtube, Apple, Yahoo and The Huffington Post):

This is a nice addition to the list of Disney Pixar feature films, but does this seem a little too much for children? This is a face-palm message that bullying is tolerated and is a reality of college life. Children who might watch the said animated movie may think bullying is ok since they have seen it in their most beloved cartoon movie. Isn't that right? I just hope the creators of the said movie have a good reason why...

Check out the teaser poster of Monsters University:



I was very vocal about my love for all the movies from Disney Pixar, but this one is kind of a little off the hook. The first one may have similar issues, but it rather focuses more on the scaring part and not the bullying. Hopefully the bullying clips featured in this trailer will only be shown on the teaser trailer, but will not find the light of the day on its theatrical release when the final cut will be released. But still kudos for yet another wonderful movie.

Check out these two images (concept arts) that accompanied the announcement of the trailers' release:





Trivia: These four teaser trailers have varying lines from Mike during his sleep talk. Here they are:

From Youtube: "My Pony made the dean's list..."
From Yahoo! Movies: "My homework ate my dog..."
From The Huffington Post: "Class president hahahaha..."
From Apple Trailers: "I can't go to class, I am not wearing any clothes..."

This very first prequel that Pixar has ever produced will be released on June 21, 2013. Still a far away journey... It will star the voices of the same cast, like John Goodman, Billy Crystal and Steve Buscemi, and some new additions to the cast. More or less, the story will take place ten years before the events of Monsters, Inc., when James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski first met. The movie will be released more or less a year from now, specifically on June 21, 2013.

Kernel's Library: The Three Musketeers are On The Loose

Book 00023: The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas

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Title:
- The Three Musketeers

First Publication:
- March 1844 by Le Siècle

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Trivia:
- The story of d'Artagnan is continued in Twenty Years After and The Vicomte de Bragelonne. Those three novels by Dumas are together known as the D'Artagnan Romances.
- Les Trois Mousquetaires was translated into three English versions by 1846. One of these, by William Barrow, is still in print and fairly faithful to the original, available in the Oxford World's Classics 1999 edition.
- The Three Musketeers was first published in serial form in the magazine Le Siècle.
- The novel has been adapted to numerous movies, tv series, musicals, and plays.

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Aside from classical novels, swashbuckling adventures is also one of my preferrred genre. That is is why I wanted to buy this book. I might have to read this in the near future, but for now here is something to help you decide if you want to read it or not...



Synopsis

A short time ago, while making researches in the Royal Library for my History of Louis XIV, I stumbled by chance upon the Memoirs of M. D'Artagnan, printed - as were most of the works of that period, in which authors could not tell the truth without the risk of a residence, more or less long, in the Bastille - at Amsterdam, by Pierre Rouge. The title attracted me; I took them home with me, with the permission of the guardian, and devoured them.

It is not my intention here to enter into an analysis of this curious work; and I shall satisfy myself with referring such of my readers as appreciate the pictures of the period to its pages. They will therein find portraits penciled by the hand of a master; and although these squibs may be, for the most part, traced upon the doors of barracks and the walls of cabarets, they will not find the likenesses of Louis XIII, Anne of Austria, Richelieu, Mazarin, and the courtiers of the period, less faithful than in the history of M. Anquetil.

But, it is well known, what strikes the capricious mind of the poet is not always what affects the mass of readers. Now, while admiring, as others doubtless will admire, the details we have to relate, our main preoccupation concerned a matter to which no one before ourselves had given a thought.

D'Artagnan relates that on his first visit to M. de Treville, captain of the king's Musketeers, he met in the antechamber three young men, serving in the illustrious corps into which he was soliciting the honor of being received, bearing the names of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.

We must confess these three strange names struck us; and it immediately occurred to us that they were but pseudonyms, under which D'Artagnan had disguised names perhaps illustrious, or else that the bearers of these borrowed names had themselves chosen them on the day in which, from caprice, discontent, or want of fortune, they had donned the simple Musketeer's uniform.

Grade: A

Legend of Korra: Can You Guess Who is Amon? Here are The Suspects

Updated: (1) The real Amon has been revealed! Head over to the end of the page if you dare. (2) Check my guess at the end of the post with some evidence (I failed with guessing).

This coming Saturday, June 23, we will finally be able to witness the two-episode season finale of the first book of The Legend of Korra, a sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender TV animation series. The first book or first season entitled Air will have 12 episodes all in all. Sad to say, we will not be having three books for this series with more or less 20 episodes each just like the first one.

This is because legend of Korra will only run for two seasons with more or less 13 episodes each. Production is underway and we will only have a total of 26 episodes. Bummer, right? But despite its very rushed production, rushed because there are sometimes continuity gaps between episodes, I still love the series and wanted to know the real score.

In the meantime, who do you think is Amon? That is the big question season one is trying to egg us all:

Who is Amon?

He or she could be anyone from these suspects, or not:

Aang

Unknown Republic City Civilian

Hiroshi Sato

Chief Lin Beifong

Fire Lord Ozai

Pema

Tarrlok

A Thug From Triple Threat Triad

Yakone

Or could it be unknowingly:

Pabu

Updated: The Real Amon has been revealed. You could find out for your self... Watch the finale episode of Legend of Korra here or head over to the end of the page.

As for me, here is what I think about: Do you ever wonder why Amon's face and hands are covered? To hide the arrow marks. Just compare the height, the build, the posture. I just really hope Aang is not Amon.



Also, it was previously revealed that Amon's eye color is this:



Compare it with adult Aang's eye color from faded flashback scene:







I am just guessing here of course, but take a pick of your own and let's see if your choice is really the man -- or the woman -- behind the mask of Amon. Find out the answer on the two-episode finale of The Legend of Korra on June 23, 2012. Hopefully there will be not much of cliffhangers since we will have to wait too long again for Book Two. Trivia: Amon will not be the main villain of the next season.

Ok, if you really insist. Here is Amon:

His name is Noatak, brother of the former-Councilman Tarrlok and the son of Yakone. Click on the image to reveal his real identity, since the image above is another fake identity of Amon, with make-up and all.