I am totally addicted to this show! They aren’t on anymore, it ran for 7 seasons, and all 7 season are now out on DVD (they also have an amazing Collectors Edtion set with all 7 seasons in a super neat box)

The first 4 seasons are my favorites. Loralie is a single mom or Rory, a smart funny teenager. They are really more like best friends then mother/daughter.

This is a great show, but like I said, the first 4 seasons are the best. As the show went on, it really got different. Rory went from being a girl-with-her-head-on-her-sholders type of gal, to a kind of rebellious, I don’t care anymore type. And it wasn’t as good after Rory went to college.

If you’re looking for a great tv show to get addicted to, check out seasons 1-7 of The Gilmore Girls. I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed!

http://www.hannahbaskets.com/dogs.html

Wow. I really love this movie! I saw it for the first time the day it came out on DVD. I then watched it again with the audio commentary the next week, and I want to watch it again soon!

I had not read the books before watching the movie. I didn’t even really know that much about it, I just wanted to get it since I thought it looked good, and it was so popular!

When I started watching it, for about the first 30 minutes, I thought it was very slow, and very stiff. The actors didn’t seem like they were acting, almost just like they were just saying the lines without knowing what the words really meant. But after the first 30 minutes, it got better!

After Bella and Edward meet, which was very awkward by the way, the movie picks up speed, and starts getting better! Bella doesn’t understand why Edward doesn’t want to have anything to do with her, or why he is so rude to her. After he saves her life, twice, he starts being a little more nice to her, but when she asks why his eyes color changes, he leaves rather abruptly!

Bella starts to wonder who, or what Edward really is, after her friend, Jacob, tells her the legend of the Cullen family. After she spends awhile on Google, she starts to realize that Edward is a vampire!

Edward admits to being a vampire and Bella, knowing that he might just decide to kill her at any minute, doesn’t really seem to care. She knows in her heart that he could never hurt her. Edward isn’t your normal vampire. And neither is his family, the Cullens. They don’t drink human blood, only those of animals. So in a way they are ‘vegetarians’. Bella feels safe with him, and they start to fall in love.

After awhile, Bella meets up with the three ‘bad’ vampires. They think that Bella would make a nice dinner, so soon Edward and Bella are on the run. I won’t give away any spoilers, but their is a pretty good scene where Bella is about to die, and Edward has to save her, by drinking some of her blood. He doesn’t know if he can do it though, without killing her. I’ll just say, that Bella does live.

I love the prom scene at the end of the movie! I thought it was really good! I won’t say to much about it though, or it will give away the movie!

This is a pretty short review of Twilight, but I didn’t want to give away to much for those of you that haven’t seen it! I will say that this is the best movie I’ve seen in quite awhile! I have now read the book, and am quite that fan! I am now buying the shirts, posters, etc! I just can’t get enough of Twilight!

I thought the actors, especially Kristine Stewart (Bella) and Robert Patterison (Edward) where amazing in this movie!  I also thought they did a very good job bringing the book to life. I also thought that they did a pretty good job of keeping the movie the same as the book.

I can’t wait to see New Moon which will be coming out in November! I hope it will be as good as Twilight! I

I give this movie a 9/10!

“It’s a Wonderful Life” Starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. This is a classic, black and white Christmas movie!

“White Christmas” Starring Danny Kaye, Rosmary Clooney, and Bing Crosby. This is one of my favorite Christmas movies! It has the best music, and great dances!

“Holiday Inn” Starring Fred Astair and Bing Crosby. This is a great Christmas, or any holiday movie! It’s a classic black and white, musical.

“Holiday Affair” Starring Robert Mitchum. This is such a good movie! They also re-made it in the 90′s. Both versions are great, but I think I like the original the best!

“Gremilns” Ok, this isn’t exactly a Christmas movie, but it does take place during Winter, and during Christmas!

“Noel By Josh Groban” This is Josh Grobans first Christmas cd! It’s really great, and I’m not even a Christmas music type of person!

Ashley Tisdales “Last Christmas” single. You can get this song on ITunes! It’s really good!

“Bishop’s Wife” Starring Cary Grant and Loretta Young. This is a really good, fun Christmas movie!

“Christmas in Connecticut” Starring Barbara Stanwyck. This is such a funny movie! It’s one of my favs!

“Mrs Santa Claus” Starring Angela Lansbury. This is a cute Christmas musical! Angela Lansbury is really good in it!

HI everyone! How are you? I hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving!
Awhile ago Oprah did a show on how animals that we consume are treated. Most animals, including chickens used for eggs, are kept in cages where they literally can’t even turn around. The cages are way to small. These animals don’t even get to see the light of day, much less have a happy life. Please, read this website, and PLEASE forward this to everyone in your contacts! http://www.hsus.org/farm/camp/nbe/
Also, if you eat eggs, make sure that they say CAGE-FREE, Free Farmed, Certified Organic, Cerfified Humand, or Free-Range. If it does NOT say any of those, it means that the chicken has been in a cage that is about the size of a sheet of paper. Please, tell you parents, friends, reletives, anyone! How would YOU like to be in a cage for your whole life, where you can’t even turn around!
If you go to resturants, you can print these cards for free to give along with your tip.

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/farm/AntiBatteryEggWalletCard_06.pdf

And here is a link that you can sign, for free, online. It’s against the cruel ways they slaughter the chickens. I know that a lot of you are busy, espically with the holiday season, but please, it only takes a few minutes, and think of the animals! Please forward this to everyone you know! Thanks! ~Amanda Ray
A Guide To Lables!

Certified Organic*: The birds are uncaged inside barns or warehouses, and are required to have outdoor access (although there have been concerns about lax enforcement, with some large-scale producers not providing birds meaningful access to the outdoors). They are fed an organic, all-vegetarian diet free of antibiotics and pesticides, as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted. Compliance is verified through third-party auditing.

Free-Range: While the USDA has defined the meaning of “free-range” for some poultry products, there are no standards in “free-range” egg production. Typically, free-range egg-laying hens are uncaged inside barns or warehouses and have some degree of outdoor access. They can engage in many natural behaviors such as nesting and foraging. However, there is no information on stocking density, the frequency or duration of outdoor access, or the quality of the land accessible to the birds. There is no information regarding what the birds can be fed. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted. There is no third-party auditing.

Certified Humane*: The birds are uncaged inside barns or warehouses, but may be kept indoors at all times. They must be able to perform natural behaviors such as nesting, perching, and dust bathing. There are requirements for stocking density and number of perches and nesting boxes. Forced molting through starvation is prohibited, but beak cutting is allowed. Compliance is verified through third-party auditing. Certified Humane is a program of Humane Farm Animal Care.

Cage-Free: As the term implies, hens laying eggs labeled as “cage-free” are uncaged inside barns or warehouses, but generally do not have access to the outdoors. They have the ability to engage in many of their natural behaviors such as walking, nesting, and spreading their wings. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted. There is no third-party auditing.

Free-Roaming: Also known as “free-range,” the USDA has defined this claim for some poultry products, but there are no standards in “free-roaming” egg production. This essentially means the hens are cage-free. There is no third-party auditing.

United Egg Producers Certified*: The overwhelming majority of the U.S. egg industry complies with this voluntary program, which permits routine cruel and inhumane factory farm practices. By 2008, hens laying these eggs will be afforded 67 square inches of cage space per bird, less area than a sheet of paper. The hens are confined in restrictive, barren cages and cannot perform many of their natural behaviors, including perching, nesting, foraging or even spreading their wings. Compliance is verified through third-party auditing. Forced molting through starvation is prohibited, but beak cutting is allowed. This is a program of the United Egg Producers.

Vegetarian-Fed: These birds’ feed does not contain animal byproducts (unlike that consumed by most laying hens), but this label does not have significant relevance to the animals’ living conditions.

Natural: This label has no relevance to animal welfare.

Fertile: These eggs were laid by hens who lived with roosters, meaning they most likely were not caged.

Omega-3 Enriched: This label claim has no relevance to animal welfare.

Grobanites for Charity is having there yearly holiday auction! Some of the things that are up for sale are autographs, quilts, necklaces, pins, clothes, and more! It’s a really great charity, and it’s always a great auction! http://www.grobanitesforcharityauction.org/

This is probably the last HSM, or at least the last one with the original cast. They really seemed to step it up for this one! The music numbers are so much better then the other 2, and the music is great.

 A lot happens in this movie. It’s the last year for Troy and the gang. They have finals, prom, graduation, and even the last musical they’ll ever do at East High. Troy struggles with what he wants to do with his life, and so does Gabriella. Troy finds out that he has been entered to get a scholrsip at Julliard, but his whole life, he and his dad have dreamed of him becoming a basketball star.

Gabriella always thought that she would go to a college, but she starts to question herself about going, because the she would have to leave Troy and all of her friends behind.

Sharpay is her usual selfish self! But she’s calmed down a little! Sharpay has a great music number, “I Want It All’, that is quite a bit better then “Fabulous” It’s very 1940′s, with the type of music, props, and dance! I was really disappointed though that Sharpay, played by Ashley Tisdale, wasn’t in the movie very much. And Ryan, played by Lucas Grabeel wasn’t either!

And now, we find that their are 3 new kids, which makes it look like they are going to make a 4th one. The new kids are: Tiara, played by Jemma McKenzie-Brown, Jimmy “The Rocket”, played by Matt Prokop, and Donny, played Justin Martin. I don’t think any of them are that great though. But it’s pretty obvious that they will be the new “HSM kids” in a 4th movie. It looks like Tiara will take over Sharpays character, and Jimmy will probably be the new Troy.

 Another great music number was “Take My Hand” sung by Troy and Gabriella. They did a beautiful waltz!

“A Night To Remember” is done by the cast of the last musical. It’s about the prom, and getting ready for it.  I wish they would have done a ‘real’ prom number though, and not just the stage performance. But the song, and the dance was really amazing!

One of my favorite musical numbers was “Scream” sung by Troy. After he finds out that Gabriella won’t come back from college to go to the prom. He’s pretty upset, so he goes to East High, and sings about how he’s so confused. Some people in the theater were laughing, probably because it is a little ‘over the top’, but I liked it anyway! They even used a old trick, making the whole room spin, so that Troy is walking on the wall, and ceiling. That was first used in a Fred Astaire movie, “Royal Wedding”!  Audiences thought that is was just amazing back then, but I guess if it’s not CGI, it’s not that cool!

The last music number, “We’re All In This Together, the Graduation” was really good to. But a little sad, since it’s the last time we’ll see Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Taylor, and Sharpay for the last time!

I LOVED this movie! I really think it’s the best of the 3. I don’t think that Vanessa Hudgens, Gaberilla, did that great of a job though. She’s a great singer and dancer, but just not a great actress. I loved all the music numbers, except “Right Here, Right Now” just didn’t seem to fit. And it really annoyed me that they had 3 new kids in it, it’s so obvious that they will be the new cast, and none of them are even that good! But all and all, I give this movie 9/10 stars!

The Jonas Brothers are having a new cd come out August 12 of this year! The songs will include:   

1. BB Good  
2.Burnin’Up  
3.Shelf 
4.One Man Show  
5.Lovebug  
6.Tonight  
7.Can’t Have You  
8.Video Girl  
9.Pushin’ Me Away 
10.Sorry
11.Got Me Going Crazy 
12.A Little Bit Longer

The soundtrack for High School Musical 3; Senior Year, is due to come out October 21st, 3 days before the movie will be in theaters!

This comedy stars Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney. This was such a funny movie!

Tyrone Power plays Thomas Jefferson Tyler, a ace reporter who wants the inside scoop on heiress, Sara Farley (Tierney). Tierney falls in love with him, but once she sees what he wrote about her, she gets just a little upset! So as payback, she decides to tell all the newspapers that she and Thomas are married! She goes on with this little joke through the whole movie, even though he keeps begging her to tell the truth! This was SUCH a funny movie! I really recommend it! Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney were very good together. They were also in “Razors Edge”. I give it a A!

And a Deanna Durbin one: http://deannadurbin.ning.com/

I hope all you James Dean and Deanna Durbin fans can join!

Davis plays a pianist, Christine Radcliffe. One day, she finds out that her boyfriend (Henried), Karel Novak, is not dead like she thought. She finds him and sees that he is still playing the cello, as he was before the war separated them. When he goes to her apartment, he finds it’s lavishly decorated with expensive paintings, furniture, and furs in her closet! Where did she get all this money, since she’s only a music teacher? Well, she says that they are gifts from her students, and he believes her.

Later, Karel and Christine marry. They have a wedding party, and suddenly Claude Rains (his character’s name is Hollenius) ‘crashes’ their party. He seems very upset, and Karel is a little confused. Hollenius talks about how he was her teacher for many years, and how he feels like she’s a daughter to him, but you can tell it was deeper then that!

That’s when the deceiving and lying start! She says that there is and never was anything between Hollenius and her, and he still buys it, but he is getting more skeptical as time goes by. Hollenius decides to help Karel out, by auditioning him in his orchestra. He makes it stressful for him, by constantly picking at him. Hollenius decides to hire him for a big concert he’s conducting, but Christine thinks he has something up his sleeve. She doesn’t think he’ll show. She decides to go to Hollenus’s house to make sure that he’s going to go, but when she gets there, she finds out how cruel and heartless he is. She runs up the stairs and grabs a gun. She threatens him, but he acts like he doesn’t care, and like she doesn’t have the guts the pull the trigger! I won’t say how this movie ends, but if your a Bette Davis fan, you can probably figure it out!

This was a very good movie, and I think Davis did a great job in it! Many people say that she ‘over-acted’ in this role, but that’s what made her, her! This isn’t exactly a film noir story, but the camera angles make it one. Their are many diagonal shots, and far off shots. Their are also a lot of shadows, and darkness. A couple intersting things to watch for is when ever Davis and Henrid are in a shot, their is normally something between them, like a window pane, or a piano, or even just a big space. Which shows how they aren’t really together, and their is something separating them. Davis often seems ‘trapped’ in things, like a piano, or a diagonal shot. Just like her lies are trapping her in her life.  Also when Davis, Henrid, and Rains are in a shot together, Rains is always between them, showing how he keeps coming between them in their life. The more you watch it, the more you see these things! Also, if you have it on DVD, their is a GREAT audio commentary by Foster Hirsch. He talks about all these things, and it really teaches you the techniques of film noir!

I give this movie a A!

This movie stars Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford, and Gloria Graham.

Sinatra plays Danny Miller, a guy returning from the army to his hometown, Brooklyn. Before he leaves, he meets Jamie Shellgrove (played by Peter Lawford). Jamie is a piano writer, but he’s music is square (old fashioned). Danny decides to try to help him get in the grove by updating his music. He then leaves for his hometown, but he finds out that Brooklyn has changed. As soon as he gets there, he meets a Anne Fielding (played by Kathryn Grayson). She is a music teacher who wants to become a professional opera singer, but she keeps getting turned down. And Danny is trying to get a job singing in a music store, but he’s to afraid to try. So Nick Lombardi (played by Jimmy Durante) decides to help him. (Nick was a janitor in the school that Danny went to when he was a boy).

Danny gets the job, and decides to try to help Ann get a job in opera, and tries to get Jamie a girlfriend (Jamie decided to come and pay Danny a visit in Brooklyn). But, as time goes by, Jamie starts to fall for Ann, even though Danny likes her! Everything does turn out alright though, just as all these types of movies do!

I LOVE this movie! I don’t know exactly why, I just love it! I love the songs that Frank Sinatra sings, such as; “Time After Time”, “The Song’s Gotta Have Heart”, “I Believe”, and “Who’s Baby are You?”. Graysons songs are very good, but her voice dosen’t sound as good as in her other movies, it’s much more quite, and not as powerful. Even Peter Lawford ‘tries’ to sing “Who’s Baby Are You?”!  

*Spoiler* I thought it was kind of sad that Danny didn’t get Ann in the end though! For some reason, in  three out of four movies they are in, they never are a couple in the end, even though they seem the best together! I give this movie a A. It’s just a nice, fun movie!!

Grant plays Geoff Carter, a tough guy who is the head of an air-freight service that operates in very dangerous mountains. Arthur plays Bonnie Lee, a lady who’s on vacation, and gets stuck while waiting for her next boat to come in. She just happens to go to Carters plane place (which also has a little restaurant). She meets Carter, and he’s pretty rude! Later that day, a man dies while trying to land, and Bonnie finds out how cold hearted Carter really is. He doesn’t even bat a eye when his plane wrecks, but he is really just trying to act like a ‘tough guy’.

Bonnie really starts to fall for Carter, till one day, his old girlfriend comes back (Rita Hayworth). That causes a little bit of trouble!

This movie has a sad, but good ending. I really like Howard Hawks movies. He was a great director. He made a few films with Grant, such as; “Bringing Up Baby”, and “His Girl Friday”. This movie, although not a comedy, does have some humorous parts, and that helps break up the drama. I give this movie a A+!

This is a remake movie of a John Garfield and Priscila Lane movie, “Four Daughters”. This remake stars Doris Day and Frank Sinatra, with Gig young, Ethel Barrymore, Dorothy Malone, Robert Keith, Elisabeth Fraser, and Alan Hale Jr.

Day plays Laurie Tuttle. The average girl next door, as she plays in many of her movies. Her dad is a music teacher and her aunt lives in their house too. She also has 3 sisters. She makes a promise with her older sister that they will never get married to anyone, and that they will be old maids together. But as you would guess, they each meet guys, and fall in love.

Day meets Gig Young (who plays the character Alex Burke), who is a composer, so he fits well into the family. He proposes to her, and they decide to set a date to get married. But then one day, Sinatra (who plays Barney Sloan) comes into her life. Barney Slone is a music arranger who is hired by Alex Burke to help him with his music. He shows up at their door one day, tie all messed up, shirt wrinkled, ect. Laurie feels bad for him, and tries to cheer him up, only to find that he thinks the world is basically against him, and what he calls ‘fate’, is out to get him. As time goes by, the song gets finished, and Barney starts to fall in love with Laurie, even though she is engaged. So finally, on the day of her wedding, he decides to tell her that he’s in love with her, and that her sister is in love with Lauries fiance! So she decides to basically dump her fiance so that her  sister won’t be hurt, and runs away and marries Barney.

So now Barney and Laurie are married, but they are struggling financially. He can’t find work, and she doesn’t know what to do. They go back to her family’s home for Christmas, and she finds out that her sister, who really was in love with Alex, is now married and happy. And that her other sisters are doing well. But Alex is there, and that causes a little bit of tenseness.

This movie has a very good ending, much better then the sad ending in “Four Daughters”. Also this is the only movie in which the two biggest singing stars of the 1950′s are teamed and sing together in a movie. They have several great songs including “One for my Baby, and One More for the Road”, the title song “Young At Heart”, and “Ready, Willing and Able”.