A new year is fast approaching. And with this new year comes more resolutions. Those we make with the best of intentions. Most of them we will break.

Every year I am going to do things differently, both personally and professionally. Two goals for this year were our domain name and this blog.

Now for my 2008 goals: to build on our domain name, finally launch Adventureland Auctions and find some steady cash flow from this online venture.

Hey Adventureland Friends:

Christmas has come and gone. I hope you had a great
one. Or made the best of it. We had 3 local families
that had brave death. One I will note here.

Doug's wife lost her dad. She made a last minute trip
home with her kids. Determined to spend Christmas with
his kids, he flew down Christmas Eve and back on
Christmas afternoon. All without missing work.

We had far less dramatic holiday. I ate much less than
usual. But I watched more movies than usual. Check
them out at the very bottom.

Got left over candy canes? See Snack Bar below. Our
Lost Legend is a childhood cut short. An Ireland trip
can be yours. See Auction Watch for details.
    
Blingo is the place to be on friday for movie buffs.
The prizes awarded are movie tickets. This is now
owned by Publishers Clearing House.      

http://www.blingo.com/friends?ref=LJt9EIXsXBaBuP-fW5DaMrkkYSk
     
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Find your showtimes @ Adventureland
http://advland.bravehost.com
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   <> <> <>  BOX OFFICE  <> <> <>
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'TREASURE' IS BOX-OFFICE GOLD

 
Santa was good to Hollywood over Christmas, delivering
hearty box-office returns more than 34%higher than the
same weekend last year.

The tale "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" pulled
in $65.4 million over the 5-day weekend. The Will
Smith flick "I Am Legend" dropped to second with a
$47.6 million take. "Alvin and the Chipmunks" finished
third with $38.6 million.

Films that opened Christmas: "Alien vs. Predator:
Requiem" collected $9.5 million; "The Great Debaters"
brought in $3.6 million; "The Water Horse: Legend of
the Deep" took in $2.4 million. "The Bucket List"
opened on 16 screens with $161,840, while
"Persepolis" opened on 7 screens with $37,118.

Movies brought in a total of $160 million Friday
through Sunday, compared to about $119 million for the
same period last Christmas weekend.

 
The top 20 movies at U.S. & Canadian theaters Friday-
Tuesday, followed by distribution studio, 5-day gross
through Tuesday, number of locations, average receipt,
total gross through Tuesday and weeks in release, as
compiled by Media By Numbers:

01) "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" Disney,
$65,444,195, 3,832 locations, $17,078 average,
$65,444,195, 1 week.

02) "I Am Legend" Warner Bros., $47,685,378, 3,620
locations, $13,173 average, $150,950,671, 2 weeks.

03) "Alvin and the Chipmunks" Fox, $38,609,310, 3,499
locations, $11,034 average, $94,476,107, 2 weeks.

04) "Charlie Wilson's War" Universal, $15,952,430,
2,575 locations, $6,195 average, $15,952,430, 1 week.

5. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Dreamworks/Paramount, $13,635,390, 1,249 locations,
$10,917 average, $13,635,390, 1 week.

06) "P.S. I Love You," Warner Bros., $10,048,349,
2,454 locations, $4,095 average, $10,048,349, 1 week.

07) "Alien vs. Predator: Requiem" Fox, $9,515,615,
2,563 locations, $3,713 average, $9,515,615, 1 week.

0 "The Golden Compass" New Line, $6,931,000, 2,953
locations, $2,347 average, $51,379,000, 3 weeks.

09) "Juno" Fox Searchlight, $6,817,494, 305 locations,
$22,352 average, $9,802,170, 3 weeks.

10) "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" Sony/Columbia,
$6,257,174, 2,650 locations, $2,361 average,
$6,257,174, one week.

11) "Enchanted" Disney, $6,235,069, 2,752 locations,
$2,266 average, $100,433,462, 5 weeks.

12) "The Great Debaters" MGM, $3,604,000, 1,164
locations, $3,096 average, $3,604,000, 1 week.

13) "Atonement" Focus, $2,900,722, 297 locations,
$9,767 average, $6,713,097, 3 weeks.

14) "No Country for Old Men" Miramax, $2,776,355,
1,222 locations, $2,272 average, $37,794,134, 7 weeks.

15) "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" Sony,
$2,385,644, 2,772 locations, $861 average, $2,385,644,
1 week.

16) "The Kite Runner" Paramount Classics/Dreamworks,
$1,957,563, 377 locations, $5,192 average, $2,658,448,
2 weeks.

17) "The Perfect Holiday" Yari Film Group, $1,344,741,
1,247 locations, $1,078 average, $4,865,959, 2 weeks.

1 "This Christmas" Sony Screen Gems, $1,338,517, 879
locations, $1,523 average, $48,152,367, 5 weeks.

19) "Fred Claus" Warner Bros., $1,195,236, 1,155
locations, $1,035 average, $70,976,126, 7 weeks.

20) "August Rush" Warner Bros., $647,495, 701
locations, $924 average, $29,669,062, 5 weeks.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/
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Expected May 2008

NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS

When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes
Booth surfaces, Ben's great-great grandfather is
implicated in Abraham Lincoln's death. Determined to
prove his innocence, Ben follows clues from Paris to
London and back to America. This journey leads Ben and
his crew to world's most treasured secrets.

Rated PG for some violence and action.
     
"...a family-appropriate adventure saga that just
wants to entertain, not break new ground." -- USA
Today,
Claudia Puig

"When you can tell the cast is having fun, it's kind
of hard not to yourself." -- E! Online,
Dezhda Mountz

http://worldsbiggesttreasurehunt.movies.go.com/
    
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Opening January 11, 2007

  SUMMER PALACE 

Two Beijing university students fall madly in love and
become swept up in the tumultuous pro-democracy
movement in 1989.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809423283/

Opening January 18, 2007 

CITY OF MEN

Two lifelong friends must confront a shocking secret
from their past when they find themselves on opposite
sides of a gang war.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809700272/
 
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HEATHER MICHELLE O'ROURKE (1975):

DOB:  December 27, 1975, San Diego, California
DOD:  February 1, 1988, San Diego, California
(cardiopulmonary arrest and intestinal stenosis)
 
This child star dazzled American audiences in the role
of Carole Anne in the Steven Spielberg horror film,
Poltergeist. The famous director discovered Heather
while she and her family were eating lunch at the MGM
Commissary. After failing her first screen test for
Poltergeist, Heather was invited back a second time
and won the part in the 1981 film, beating out the
more famous Drew Barrymore. She was only 6 years old.
Heather’s performance won raves from critics and
audiences alike. She reprised her role as Carole Anne
in two less popular Poltergeist followups. Heather’s
life was cut tragically short on February 1, 1988 when
she died in the Emergency Room after battling an
intestinal disorder. Heather was 12 years old.

NOTABLES:

President of her class in the 5th grade.

While filming Poltergeist, one scene really scared
her. Steven Spielberg stopped everything, put her in
his arms, and said that she would not have to do that
scene again. (Cinefantasque, July 198

In real life, she loved to go shopping. The girl had
to have everything match, from shoes to earrings. She
also loved to make and eat sweets.

For a pet, she had a St. Bernard. As a gift from the
crew, she got to keep the goldfish from Poltergeist.

She died while on hiatus from filming Poltergeist III
(198 , her final movie, which is dedicated to her
memory. She was replaced with a blonde stand-in.

Performed from age 3 in numerous commercials before
her Poltergeist (1982) role, most notably for Mattel
and McDonalds.

Rests in a mausoleum next to Truman Capote and Mel
Torm?.

Tried out for the role of Vicki on "Small Wonder"
(1985).

Ranked #65 on VH1's '100 Greatest Kid Actors' special.

Her line, "They're here", ranked #69 on the 'AFI'S TOP
100 Movie Quotes' special which aired on CBS. She also
holds the distinction of being the youngest (age 5 at
the time) actor/actress to utter the line that made
the list.

A straight-A student throughout her school career.

Her favorite movie of all time was Disney's Dumbo
(1941), and her favorite movie she appeared in was the
original Poltergeist (1982).

Her favorite TV shows were "Three's Company" (1977)
and "The Benny Hill Show" (1969).

Some of her lesser known creative talents were
calligraphy, drawing, baking, singing, and dancing.

Planned to attend college at UCLA and major in
filmmaking.

Of Danish-Irish descent and heritage

Mentioned in Denis Leary's "Downtrodden Song," the
finale to his one man show "No Cure For Cancer," where
he names a bunch of famous people who died. He calls
her "The chick from the Poltergeist movies".

Appeared on the doll box for Mattel's "My First
Barbie" in 1980.

Heather's Poltergeist III (198 co-star Tom Skerritt
was one of her pallbearers at her funeral.

Is buried in the same cemetery as Poltergeist costar
Dominique Dunne.

QUOTABLES:

"I hope people enjoy what I do. That would make me
happy because I'd be bringing others pleasure while
doing something I like."

"I never watch horror movies as a rule."

"Why do people want my autograph? It's just my name on
a piece of paper."

"I'm really not afraid of spooky things. When I have
to look really frightened, I concentrate on scary
things like losing my kittens or something like that."

I hope to do a different character some day. I'm tired
of this one, kind of. If there is a sequel, a
'Poltergeist IV,' I hope it's the last.

http://heatherorourke.net/site/
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1173
http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/o/Heather%20ORourke/heather_o.htm

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   <> <> <>  SNACK BAR  <> <> <>
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PEPPERMINT FUDGE

 
Add your leftover candy canes to this holiday
delights. You'll find the creamy fudge topped with
crushed peppermint candy hard to resist.

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup (5 oz. can) NESTL?® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups NESTL?® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate
Morsels
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/4 cup crushed, hard peppermint candy

Directions:
LINE 8-inch-square baking pan with foil.

COMBINE sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in
medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling
boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil,
stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from
heat.

STIR in marshmallows, morsels, vanilla extract and
peppermint extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or
until marshmallows are melted. Pour into prepared
baking pan; cool for 1 minute. Top with candy,
pressing in slightly. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until
firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 48 pieces.

©2006 NESTL? 
www.VeryBestBaking.com        
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   <> <> <>  BUDDY LIST  <> <> <>
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!!! PAKADEVA'S FREEBEES !!!
This is the place ! Find real freebies, Interesting
finds, & contests ! Subscribe to enter & receive a
FREE phone card ! Check our Crafts, Natural Beauty &
Recipes pages. ( International )
http://www.pakadevasfreebees.com

??? WANT SOMETHING FOR NOTHING ???
Free stuff with free shipping. If it's not clearly
free, it's not on Free N Clear! Freebies and samples
with no postage sent to you! We do the legwork, so you
don't have to.
http://www.freenclearstuff.com

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  <> <> <>  BOOKMARKS   <> <> <>
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ARE YOU READY 4 DIGITAL TV?

After February 17, 2009, standard analog TVs that get
their programming from an over-the-air antenna will go
dark. If you subscribe to cable or satellite, you will
still be able to watch on your analog TV. But if you
rely on an over-the-air signal, you will have to take
action if you still want to watch television! The
purpose of this site is to arm you with basic
information about the switchover to digital TV.

http://www.indydtv.com/
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BLOCKBUSTER VS. NETFLIX
 
Blockbuster, which has been losing money on online
movie orders, is boosting prices of its DVD-by-mail
service for new customers and some existing ones. The
immediate beneficiary was Netflix. While Blockbuster
was losing online customers over the summer - Netflix
cut prices and added subscribers.

  'KNIGHT RIDER' CAR 4 SALE 
 
An original KITT - the talking car from "Knight Rider"
- is for sale on eBay. This black 1984 Pontiac Trans
Am is being sold to satisfy the debts of slain real
estate developer Andrew Kissel. Another original KITT
was sold by an auto dealer. That 1982 Trans Am was 1
of 4 "camera cars" and sold for $100,000.

  PREGNANT TEENS IN SPOTLIGHT 
 
In the new hit movie "Juno" and now in real life with
Jamie Lynn Spears, 16-year-olds get pregnant and
decide to bear the child. "Juno" is the latest in a
series of recent movies in which the heroine, faced
with an unexpected pregnancy, chooses not to have an
abortion. Others include "Knocked Up," "Waitress" and
"Bella."

   NICK EXPLORES SPEARS OPTIONS 

Nickelodeon is considering a special about sex and
love following the news that Jamie Lynn Spears is
pregnant. The network has made no announcement about
the future of "Zoey 101." Filming for the fourth and
final season has finished. For the special, Nick said
it's talking with Linda Ellerbee.

DEATH OF BORAT & ALI G

 
Borat is dead. Sacha Baron Cohen tells The Daily
Telegraph that he's retiring the Kazakh journalist and
aspiring rapper Ali G. He brought Borat to the masses
with "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make
Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." He first
introduced the character on "Da Ali G Show" on HBO.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

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  <> <> <>  DVD SHOWCASE  <> <> <>
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Buy your favorite DVDs @ Adventureland
http://psgoods.bravehost.com 
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   <> <> <>  NOW SHOWING  <> <> <>
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THE NANNY DIARIES

The emotional and humorous journey of Annie Braddock,
from a working-class neighborhood in New Jersey, who
ends up working as a nanny in elite and ritualistic
Manhattan. She quickly learns that life is not very
rosy on the other side of the tax bracket.

Rated PG-13 for language
 
"Although Johansson has a knack for nailing most
roles, the angry yet fun-loving nanny doesn't quite
work for her." -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
Meghan Peters  

"...the picture's ending is guaranteed to lose
whatever shreds of audience goodwill remain." -- San
Francisco Chronicle,
Mick LaSalle 

            
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February 12, 2008

INTO THE WILD

Based on a true story and bestselling book. After
graduating, Christopher abandons his possessions, gave
his savings to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to
live in the wilderness. He encounters a series of
characters that shape his life.

Rated R for language and some nudity

"It's an intensely physical movie, yet it's never just
physical." -- Entertainment Weekly,
Owen Gleiberman

"(Sean Penn) focuses on the best aspects of Chris
McCandless, played wonderfully by Emile Hirsch." --
Los Angeles Times,
Kenneth Turan
               
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LIGHTS! CAMERA! IRELAND!

Gerry sent Holly to Ireland to rediscover what life is
all about. What she found there lifted her heart. Take
part in our "P.S. I Love You" movie prop auction and
allow Tourism Ireland to guide you on your very own
adventure. The proceeds benefit SADS Foundation.

http://www.ebay.com/psiloveyou
(Page will redirect to seller's about me page)

Are you looking for an authentic period-built log
home? Not the usual log home package. Donated by a
local family and moved from their farm to the park.
Due to neglect and disrepair, the Hagerstown Park
Board will place this on eBay in January 2008.

I have been in this cabin several times. It is rare
two-story construction. Built of hard woods and field
stone. A true gem that can and must be saved. -Paul
         
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TAKE A BITE OUT OF STEEP DVD PRICES!

Buy one DVD get one free! Save on Top A&E Titles. With
television series and documentaries for history buffs
and sports fans all on sale, there's something for
everyone. Enter code BUYONEGETONEANE at checkout to
save! Offer ends 10/16. Discount applies to the lower
priced items.

http://www.deepdiscount.com/DVD---A-E-Buy-One-Get-One-Free_stcVVcatId479941VVviewcat.htm?promoCode=BUYONEGETONEANE

A UNIQUE GIFT IDEA 4 MOVIE BUFFS

MovieTexts are a totally new way to send greetings or
just keep in touch. Tap in your message and we turn
your words into their own little movie. Each has been
crafted by an experienced filmmaker. We'll deliver it
for you by e-mail or mobile phone. We can send it at
any time - up to one year in the future.

http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?75497

HOME THEATER, GAME ROOM & SNACK BAR

Shop our Pre Holiday Sale and Save Big! We carry
products for your bar, kitchen, rec room, patio and
more. Save 5%-10% on your order by entering the
corresponding code during checkout.
On orders up to $99.99; save 5% with code A5
$100-499.99; save 7.5% with code A75
$500+; save 10% with code A10.

http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?75500

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FORMER CHILD STAR ARRESTED

 
Danielle Fishel, a heartthrob on ABC's "Boy Meets
World," was arrested on a drunk driving warrant from
Los Angeles County. Fishel was arrested Thursday just
before 5 a.m. after officers stopped a car she was in,
said Newport Beach Sgt. James Rocker. She was released
shortly after her arrest. Fishel spent more than 7
years playing Topanga, the love interest of  star Ben
Savage. Fishel is special correspondent for the Tyra
Banks show.

NORRIS: 'TRUTH' BOOK IS LIES

 
Chuck Norris is taking on a new book titled "The Truth
About Chuck Norris," saying it's a big lie and he
wants to stop its distribution. On friday, Norris sued
Penguin Group and book creator, Ian Spector. The
actor, whose real name is Carlos Ray Norris, says the
preface of the book refers to meetings between Norris
and Spector at Brown University, and thanks Norris for
"playing along." But, the lawsuit said, Norris never
authorized Penguin or its Gotham Books division to use
his name, image or likeness in connection with sales
of the book, which was published Nov. 29.

BAM CLOSER 2 OPENING THEATER

 
Bam Margera is a step closer to opening a theater in
his hometown. West Chester Borough Council has agreed
to withdraw its objection to a liquor license for the
MTV star's planned theater. The council voted 5-2 in
favor of withdrawing its protest of the license after
backers agreed not to sell package goods. The liquor
control board will have a hearing for neighborhood
groups opposed to the theater who have filed protests.

http://www.bamargera.com/

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SHARP TEAMS WITH TOSHIBA ON LCD
 
Toshiba & Sharp expanded ties in making liquid crystal
displays, with competition growing intense among
flat-panel TV producers. Toshiba will purchase LCD
panels from Sharp for TVs of 32 inches or larger. In
turn, Sharp will buy computer chips for use in LCD
from Toshiba. The partnership will combine the LCDs of
Sharp with the semiconductors of Toshiba. Sharp will
buy 50% of its system LSI for TVs from Toshiba, and
Toshiba will buy 40% of its LCD panels from Sharp by
2010. The numbers may grow, they said.

  
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NO WGA DEAL 4 LETTERMAN

 
David Letterman's company met with writers to reach a
deal that would allow the "Late Show" to return with
writers. The Writers Guild of America said, "A lively
exchange of information took place." Absent a deal,
the show's goal of returning Jan. 2 is up in the air.
Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel are coming
back without writers. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert
will bring their shows back without writers Jan. 7.
Rob Burnett, CEO of Worldwide Pants, said this, "We
had a substantive discussion today with the WGA and
look forward to continuing these talks next week."

  WRITERS WILL DO SPIRIT AWARDS    
 
Writers Guild of America says its members will be
allowed to work for the Spirit Awards despite the
uncertainties surrounding other awards shows because
of the writers strike. WGA said the show's producers
asked before the strike began. The guild already has
refused to participate in the Academy Awards and
Golden Globes. Producers of People's Choice Awards
said they are revamping their show because of the
strike. The ceremony typically airs live but will be
taped for a Jan. 8 telecast on CBS. The Spirit Awards
will be presented Feb. 23, before the Academy Awards.

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   <> <>  TIME CAPSULE  <> <>
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December 21, 1937 - Walt Disney debuted the first,
full-length, animated feature in Hollywood, CA. The
movie was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

December 23, 1930 - Ruth Elizabeth Davis arrived in
Hollywood under contract to Universal Studios. They
changed her name to Bette Davis for the movies.

December 24, 1990 - Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman were
married.

December 26, 1974 - Jack Benny died at age 80. 

December 28, 2000 - Shannen Doherty was arrested for
driving under the influence.

December 30, 1953 - The first color TV sets went on
sale for about $1,175.

December 31, 1947 - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans were
married.
    
+===================================+
Here are the movies I watched for Christmas. Yes, I
watched them back to back. I have placed "*" before
and after my favorites. But I hope you watch them all.

*A BOYFRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS*

On Christmas Day, Santa brings two lonely people
together. But can love overcome deception?

A CAROL CHRISTMAS

"A Christmas Carol" has been modernized. The "Scrooge"
is a talk show host named Carol. 

*ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS*

Widowed Sara has had little time for romance, but her
son's Christmas wish for new dad changes that.

*THE CHRISTMAS CARD*

In the midst of war, Cody is touched by a card and
sets out on a mission to find her.

A CHRISTMAS WEDDING

Emily & Ben met on Christmas day now plan to marry on
this Christmas day almost two years later.

*CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE*

Two bereaved families take holiday vacations to an
island to escape the memories of Christmas past.

*A GRANDPA FOR CHRISTMAS*

Bert (80) takes in his granddaughter (9) after his
estranged daughter is involved in a car accident.

THE NOTE

A scrap of paper with a message of love & forgiveness
leads a writer on an inspirational journey.

Have a safe and happy New Years celebration. Grandpa
always said, "What you do on New Year's Day you will
do throughout the year. So he worked, calling it job
security. I will be here behind the keyboard.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! GOOD LUCK & BEST WISHES IN 2008!
     
Rewind,
Paul @ Reel 2 Reel

mailto:advland@iwon.com?subject=Reel_2_Reel

I look forward to the time we will spend together in 2008. In addition to more Reel 2 Reel and blog posts, there are a mountain other ideas.

Both this blog and our web site will benefit from my ideas. This may require some missed issues from time to time. If not there, I should be here.

!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

- Paul 

With all of the buzz around Spears - Jamie Lynn, not Britney - you may have missed "Juno." The movie and Spears are both dealing with teen pregnancy.

The first article deals with the Hollywood slant in general. And how they shy away from abortion. I can only recall "Dirty Dancing" dealing with abortion.

Two Pregnant 16-Year-Olds in Spotlight
 
Dec 20, 6:25 PM (ET)

By DAVID CRARY

NEW YORK (AP) - In the new hit movie "Juno" and now in real life with Jamie Lynn Spears, 16-year-old girls get pregnant and decide to bear the child rather than opt for abortion. For social conservatives, it's a challenging story line - they condemn the teen sex but hail the ensuing choice.

"It's a double-edged sword in the Christian community," said Bill Maier, a vice president of the conservative ministry Focus on the Family.

"We should commend girls like Jamie Lynn Spears for making a courageous decision to have the baby. On the other hand, there's nothing glamorous or fun about being an unwed teen mother."

In "Juno," the spunky heroine continues attending high school even as her belly swells, and she scouts out a married couple who want to adopt the baby.
 
Spears, the star of "Zoey 101" and the younger sister of pop star Britney Spears, has said she plans to raise her child in her home state of Louisiana.

The news about Spears was greeted with mixed emotions by Leslie Unruh, a Sioux Falls, S.D., activist who has campaigned against abortion and for abstinence-only sex education.

"When I heard the story, I felt sad at first," Unruh said. "Already her life is not the norm of other 16-year-old girls.

"You have a lot of teens who look at those people as role models," she said. "There's a danger of them thinking, 'She got pregnant? I guess I can have a baby too.'"

The message from Unruh and others: It's not that simple.

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, said both "Juno" and the Spears pregnancy demonstrated to teens that there are costs to engaging in sex.

"Too often, sex is presented as having no consequences," she said. "In both of these cases, the girls are pretty much admitting that they made some wrong choices, yet they are acting responsibly now that they're facing the consequences. That's a mature response."

The Roman Catholic Church, while firmly opposed to premarital sex, embraces the message that adoption is among the best options if an unmarried teen does become pregnant, said Deirdre McQuade, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference.

"The admirable choice for an unplanned pregnancy is to make the best parenting plan possible - whether that means making all the sacrifices necessary to raise the child or generously placing him or her in an adoptive family," McQuade said.

"Juno" is the latest in a series of recent movies in which the heroine, faced with an unexpected pregnancy, chooses not to have an abortion. Others include "Knocked Up,""Waitress" and "Bella."

Dr. Vanessa Cullins, vice president for medical affairs at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said these story lines - generally with upbeat endings - oversimplify the tough choices facing real-life girls and women. Each year, more than 1 million of them in the United States opt to have an abortion.

"Hollywood is in this for money and entertainment," Cullins said. "They are shying away from having the characters fully explore all their options when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

"In the real world, it's important to weigh all the possible options and then come up with the best one for the teen, the family and the child," Cullins added. "That will be different for different circumstances."

Cullins expressed hope that the buzz about teen pregnancies would prompt candid conversations between parents and children about relationships, values and how to avoid unintended pregnancies through abstinence or effective contraception. National statistics released earlier this month showed the teen birth rate on the rise for the first time in 15 years.

Demie Kurz, a sociologist who co-directs the University of Pennsylvania's women's studies program, noted that the "Juno" heroine and Jamie Lynn Spears come from well-off families and do not represent the many girls from low-income backgrounds who get pregnant.

"Some of them have the babies as part of their path to what they see as adulthood, but they often put their education on hold, and it makes life a lot tougher," Kurz said. "Do we want to put burdens on these teenage girls by encouraging them to think that having a baby is cool?"

She said it was reflective of the U.S. political climate that few movies depict abortion as a valid option.

"There should be a responsibility to portray a young person who makes a reasonable choice to have an abortion, or take the morning-after pill," Kurz said. "The absence of films showing alternatives is really upsetting."

While Jamie Lynn Spears may have the financial resources to raise her child in comfort, psychotherapist Linda Perlman Gordon of Chevy Chase, Md., - who has written about teenage girls - said daunting emotional challenges likely await.

"Having to be a selfless parent is totally contradictory to the development of a teenager," Gordon said. "To do it right, she's got to subsume her needs. She's going to have to give up the part of growing that would have allowed her to become an autonomous, independent person."

This second article is focused on Jamie Lynn Spears and the Nickelodeon angle. More to the point, the future of her show and a proposed special.

I think the show should stay. We are talking about a final season that is waiting in the pipeline. So, what would we be gaining by cancelling it now?

A special hosted by Linda Ellerbee is a great idea. I place her right up there with the late Fred Rogers. The God and Goddess of children's programming

Nick Mulling Post-Spears Pregnancy Show

Dec 20, 4:24 PM (ET)

By DAVID BAUDER
 
NEW YORK (AP) - Nickelodeon is considering a special for its young audience about sex and love following the news that 16-year-old "Zoey 101" star Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant.

The television network has made no announcement about the future of "Zoey 101," its popular program aimed primarily at youngsters aged 9-14. Filming for the show's fourth and final season has finished, and episodes are scheduled to begin airing in February.

For the special, Nickelodeon said it's talking with Linda Ellerbee, the veteran newswoman who has stepped in frequently in the past with shows on talking to children about difficult issues in the news. She's done shows about same-sex parents, AIDS, the Columbine shooting and President Clinton's impeachment scandal.

"I think it's important that something be done," Ellerbee told The Associated Press on Thursday. "But I think it's important that it be done in a measured way, and not just to feed the beast of news stories.

 
A Nickelodeon spokesman, Dan Martinsen, confirmed the discussions but said no decision had been made.

Spears, the younger sister of pop star Britney Spears, told the OK! celebrity magazine this week that she was pregnant. The father is her 19-year-old boyfriend, Casey Aldridge. She said she plans to raise the baby in her home state of Louisiana.

Nickelodeon has made no comment beyond a supportive statement for its star: "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."

The company has received a mixed response so far from its viewers, and the news has launched a public discussion about how parents should deal with it.

"This is a great opportunity for parents at this moment to talk to their kids about this - more important, to listen to their kids about this," Ellerbee said.

Rather than focus strictly on Spears, Ellerbee said she's considering producing a broad discussion about how people know they're in love, when is the right time to have sex and what are the value systems of their parents and friends. It could air as soon as next month.

"Right now what Nick is trying to do - and what I am trying to do - is figure out what is the best thing to do for kids," she said.

One television critic, David Hinckley of the New York Daily News, wrote Thursday that to end "this sordid moment" with a lesson, Nickelodeon should pull the plug on "Zoey 101."

"If Nickelodeon keeps Jamie Lynn Spears because her product sells, it runs the risk that a valuable message it has spent years crafting could shift from 'trust us' to 'whatever,'" Hinckley wrote.

Although Nick executives are still discussing the future of "Zoey 101," it's considered unlikely that it would shelve the final season. The third season ends Jan. 4 with a cliffhanger episode about whether Spears' character continues to attend a boarding school in California or moves to London with her parents.

Executives at Nick's rival Disney Channel public relations crisis this summer when Vanessa Hudgens, the 18-year-old star of its "High School Musical" franchise, posed for nude photos that were leaked to the Internet. Hudgens apologized, Disney stuck by her and the issue quickly faded.

I had read that Britney is disappointed by Jamie Lynn. Yes, I almost fell on the floor laughing. As grandma would say, "He who lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones."

I know of a 13 year old who got pregnant. Afraid of dissapointing her grandma, a staunchly religious lady, she secretly gave birth and placed it for adoption.

Why would she go to this extreme? Because the same lady only claims grandchildren born in wedlock. Now, where does she get off calling herself a christian?

- Paul